An Outstanding Contribution
An Outstanding Contribution
Wind power was virtually unheard of when Alan Mortimer began his career in the energy industry 20 years ago.
Since then, he has been a key figure in the development of the renewables industry in Scotland, latterly as ScottishPower’s Head of Renewables Policy.
His work was recognised at the Scottish Green Energy Awards in December, when he was given the prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.
He said: "I am delighted with the award. It’s a real honour, reflecting the successes which we’ve achieved, especially in the past year. These successes, in actual fact, are down to a tremendous team within ScottishPower who really are leading the industry with their responsible and professional approach, so I accepted the award with that very much in mind."
Alan has watched the demand for wind energy soar during his tenure at ScottishPower. As an aeronautical engineering graduate trainee in 1987, his first job was in wind turbine manufacturing and designing with Renfrew-based James Howden, the world’s leading manufacturer at the time.
When Alan joined ScottishPower as an engineer in 1991, wind power was starting to take off in the UK and he was involved in the technical due diligence of the company’s first windfarm project at P&L in Wales, reviewing turbine productivity and reliability.
Throughout the 1990s, Alan was involved in several projects around the UK, such as the Northern Irish trio of Corkey, Rigged Hill and Elliott’s Hill, and Scotland’s first windfarm at Hagshaw Hill.
In 1996, Alan moved over to New Business Ventures in a business development role, and he has been responsible for selecting the sites for almost all of ScottishPower’s windfarms including Whitelee (which will be the biggest in Europe).
One focus of Alan's has been to apply the highest possible standards of sustainability to local environmental issues. For example, Beinn an Tuirc wind farm in Kintyre presented a unique challenge to Alan and the team.
An ecological study at the site revealed that a pair of Golden Eagles could have been harmed by the development.
"We had to configure the design so it didn’t harm the 10 km2 of habitat," said Alan. "We liaised closely with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in order for the project to go ahead. The experience of habitat management that we gained there has been instrumental in helping us build the business by allowing other projects to proceed using similar techniques. We are now recognised as Best in Class in this regard and this was certainly a factor in securing the Queen’s Award.”
With demand for renewable energy continuing to grow across the industry, the team at ScottishPower has grown steadily to meet the demand.
"In 2000, there were four of us,” he said. “Now there is a strong team of 70, established as the largest wind farm developer in the UK and dedicated to growing the renewables business. It is the team’s hard work that is delivering results.”
Although the size of the renewables team has mushroomed, Alan is eyeing up further growth.
He is hoping to help increase ScottishPower’s windfarm portfolio, with opportunities in Wales, and off-shore sites identified as two areas of development. More recently he has also been helping the development of another promising renewable energy source: wave and marine power.
“We are at a very early stage,” he said. “There are many similarities with the issues we had back in the 1990s with wind power; although the technology is at an even earlier stage of development.
“At the moment, there is a wide range of devices being trialled and projects underway, with support from the Scottish Executive, which is taking a healthy interest. Through experience and lessons learned, we will find a way forward.”
