A series of key appointments have been made to Wave Energy Scotland (WES) as the new research and development organisation sets up an Advisory Group.
The Advisory Group will be chaired by a Tiree-based businessman with a background in consulting and banking, Steve Thomson, who is also a board member of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The Group met for the first time on Wednesday, 15th July and is expected meet up to six times a year.
Tim Hurst, MD, Wave Energy Scotland, said: “The Advisory Group will perform a vital role for Wave Energy Scotland, that of providing strategic direction and ensuring WES maintains a commercial focus within the programme. It is important that WES benefits from the experience of other industries as we seek to find innovative solutions for the wave energy sector. To that end, the Advisory Group does include representatives from a number of sectors and also academia, with a range of expertise and a considerable body of experience.”
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing, said: “The technology challenges are significant in the wave sector. Wave Energy Scotland is drawing on a wide range of expertise with the aim to find sustainable solutions to these challenges, making the contribution of the Advisory Group a vital part of that process.
“There is still scope for representatives of original equipment manufacturers to join the Advisory Group and I would particularly encourage applications from women who might be interested. The Scottish Government supports 50 per cent of public, private and third sector boards to be women by 2020.”
WES received over fifty applications from interested parties keen to be involved in the group. Membership of the group includes those with experience in energy sector and also individuals with a background in investment and insurance.
The Advisory Group will act as a forum for support and guidance to WES. It will also consider how best to develop the WES programme to achieve the aims and objectives of the organisation. Group members have been appointed for a three-year term.
Advisory Group members are:
Barry Carruthers – ScottishPower Renewables Bjorn Bolund – Vattenfall Stuart Bradley – ETI Professor Ian Bryden – University of the Highlands and Islands Andrew Buglass – Buglass Energy Advisory Michael Bullock – Renewable Risk Advisers Ltd Joao Cruz – Wavepower Technologies Ltd Clare Duffy – ESB Peter Frankael – Frankael Wright Ltd Andrew Mill – EMEC Alan Mortimer – SgurrEnergy Jason Schofield – Green Marine Richard Watson – EDP Renewables
Image: HIE