Our Team

Renewables @ No. 10

10 Sinclair Street

Thurso

Caithness KW14 7AJ

Telephone 01847 500100

Email business@caithnessrenewables.uk

All site content subject to copyright © Caithness Renewables  2022

Our Projects

 

Resource Efficient Scotland

Assistance with Energy Advice & Waste Prevention (2017 -2018)

Eyemouth Marketing Plan and Funding Application, Eyemouth Harbour (2013-ongoing)

Caithness Renewables prepared a marketing plan for this harbour located in south Scotland. Key tasks have involved a competitive landscape analysis to better understand how well placed the harbour is to harness business opportunities from the renewable energy sector, a SWOT analysis of the harbour and stakeholder consultation with a view to identifying short, medium and long term opportunities for the harbour. As well as interviewing all key port users and stakeholders, a facilitated workshop was held with the Trust Board to focus on the potential options for development.  Following on from this work Caithness Renewables assisted with a successful EMFF funding application for support towards a marketing assistant position.

Stornoway Wind Farm Pre-planning consultation (2010-2011)

Public consultation activities associated with the proposed onshore wind development, Stornoway Wind Farm including the successful Section 36 application.  Duties included document review (all public documents & the Section 36 application),  advising on public consultation, display boards, website and questionnaires as awell as being prt of the public exhibition team

Caithness Conversation workshops (2013 - 2014)

 

Work alongside Foundation Scotland as part of the Caithness Conversation a community consultation exercise looking at the use of and access to community benefit from onshore wind schemes. Led group sessions at workshops involving a wide range of community members as well as a workshop with developers.

 

Confidential Highlands and Islands harbour client (Jan – March 2014)

Production of business plan for harbour redevelopment to very tight programme including workshop with the board and stakeholder consultation, including discussions with developers and supply chain businesses. Identification of funding sources.

Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Pre-planning consultation and Local Liaison (2011 -  2017)

Public consultation activities associated with the proposed onshore wind development, Bad á Cheò  in Caithness for RWE npower renewables. Duties include advising on public consultation, display boards, questionnaires and newsletters as well as preparing the Socio Economic Chapter for the Environmental Statement.  Acting as the Local Liaison Officer for the project receiving emails, letters, telephone calls and visits from members of the public.

Ormlie Community Association (2006 -2008)

Carried out research projects with Ormlie Community Association interfacing with the University of the Highlands and Islands, notably the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso and Lews Castle College in Stornoway. Whilst working for Ormlie Community Association, Louise also accessed a LEADER grant which supported the training of unemployed people and volunteers in energy awareness and energy saving, promoting social inclusion and capacity building in the community. Working in partnership with social housing providers, individual households benefitted from energy audits carried out by volunteers working with staff members and researchers. Events were targeted at schools, tradesmen and the public.

Successfully set up of Caithness Energy Advice (now called Pentland Energy Advice), an energy advice service for householders and community groups in Caithness and North Sutherland. Attracted £140k of funding for four energy advisers in 2007, coming runner up in Energy Action Scotland’s EnergySavers Award 2007. She held a leading role in this community initiative to develop renewable energy and energy saving projects within the community to deal with issues such as social exclusion, fuel poverty, energy efficiency and sustainable development

Caithness Renewables’ pro bono funding applications (2010-2016)

Recent pro bono work at Caithness Renewables includes working with community groups to obtain funding for sustainability and renewable energy projects. Projects have included looking at  Low Carbon Vehicle utilising renewable energy charging points;  wind/ hydrogen project looking at using a fuel cell vehicle; a food project and an algae project.

 

HIE Pentland Firth Marine Energy Project (2008-2010)

The successful key Scottish regional initiative to focus the marine energy industry in the Pentland Firth, making it the first area in the UK to be available for commercial wave and tidal development. Louise’s role included stakeholder liaison and co-ordinating relevant research and development. In September 2008, following a period of successful promotion and negotiation, it was announced that the region would be the first area in the UK to be made available for commercial marine energy developments by The Crown Estate.

 

 

THE TEAM

 

Louise Smith BSc (Eng), CEng MICE, MCIHT, AIEMA

Louise Smith has a varied background of working for public, private and third sector organisations in a variety of challenging roles. She has thirty years’ experience in civil engineering and renewable energy.

- Louise is an experienced project manager and has carried out this role on numerous projects in the public, private and third sectors with overall responsibility for project management, programme and budgetary control as well as leading teams of various sizes.

- Through Caithness Renewables she established Renewables @ No. 10, a hot desk facility for use by incoming businesses and business start-ups, providing a fertile business environment for economic growth. Hands on experience of establishing a niche, multi-use facility.

- Louise worked for Highlands and Islands Enterprise from 2008 -2010 as the Pentland Firth Marine Energy Project Manager, leaving her with a good understanding of partnership working, consultation and strategic influencing.

- Her recent experience in a number of roles that have involved interfacing with the public and community groups including running events and workshops.

- Establishment of the successful initiative, Caithness Energy Alliance (CEA), uniting local companies to target renewable energy opportunities. This led to a voluntary role as Convenor for CEA, attracting funding for and organising a key marine energy conference with 200 delegates in February 2008, having the First Minister as keynote speaker. Led to the creation of the HIE Pentland Firth Marine Energy Project Manager post.

- Establishment of the Caithness and North Sutherland Craft Development Group, empowering local craftspeople to access income through their relevant skills, including providing an umbrella for selling of local craft. Successful initiatives including working in partnership with VisitScotland to sell craft through their Thurso outlet during the Royal National Mod held in Caithness in 2010; selling to cruise ships visiting the port of Scrabster, 2011 onwards; local craft fayres. Louise led marketing and training the group in labelling, branding and selling.

- She has experience of tackling community issues through her roles at Ormlie Community Association and as a director of HICEC, further strengthened by recent pro bono work at Caithness Renewables working with community groups to obtain funding for sustainability and renewable energy projects. She has a good understanding of energy saving strategies.

- She held a leading role in this community initiative to develop renewable energy and energy saving projects within the community to deal with issues such as social exclusion, fuel poverty, energy efficiency and sustainable development.

- Successful set up of Caithness Energy Advice (now called Pentland Energy Advice), an energy advice service for householders and community groups in Caithness and North Sutherland. Attracted £140k of funding for four energy advisers in 2007, coming runner up in Energy Action Scotland’s EnergySavers Award 2007.

- Work for Eyemouth Harbour Trust, producing a business plan, a marketing plan and assisting with accessing funding (2013 to date).

- Writing the business plan for Traill Hall Community Trust, Castletown, Caithness in 2014 to turn a dilapidated Grade II listed building into a community hub incorporating a community café, child care facility and space for rent.

- Pro bono work in 2015 for Caithness Voluntary Group (CVG) to produce a funding application to the Local Energy Challenge Fund (LECF) for the Alternative Community Transport In Our Neighbourhood (ACTION) project - for the use of electric vehicles by Caithness Rural Transport and a network of renewable energy charging points across the Highlands involving seven community groups.  Led to the securing of LECF phase 1 funding and project feasibility work 2015 – 2016.

Louise is typically the Project Manager on our commissions.

 

Consultant – Eilidh Gunn BSc (Technology)

 

Eilidh Gunn works on projects when need requires. In addition to working for Caithness Renewables she also works for Foundation Scotland providing funding advice to community groups and assessing funding applications. She is studying part time towards a second honours degree with the Open University, building upon her experience with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on the Pentland Firth Marine Energy Project. During this time she became knowledgeable about the key issues for the marine energy sector. Her current work includes writing business plans and other documents. Previously Eilidh worked for ten years within the public sector where she gained a sound knowledge of grant funding processes, tendering, partnering with government organisations and project planning.

- Logistical support; Stakeholder liaison; Partnership working; Press and marketing; Confidentiality

- At Caithness Renewables carries out survey work for business/ households considering micro renewable developments. Undertakes market research projects; Writes business plans; Assists with project delivery focused on offshore wind

- At HIE worked with companies looking to expand into new region or markets providing ideas for development. Provided logistical support and project planning. Organised conferences and events

Juvénal Dufaur, Marine Engineer, MSc in Energy and Renewable Energy

 

- In 2015 Juvénal , submitted his PhD thesis ‘The Tidal Races As  An Obstacle To The Tidal Stream Energy Development In The Pentland  Firth’ .  Its tidal races were modelled using numerical techniques with ‘Fluidity’ software which, with field data analysis, helps to characterise turbulent flow and assists marine energy developers in de-risking their projects. 

- Juvénal joined Caithness Renewables Ltd in 2013 to enhance marine energy support services for this well-placed renewable energy consultancy, looking to capitalise upon the opportunities afforded by the Pentland Firth. As well as this specialised offering, Juvénal provides support for the offshore wind supply chain, and ports and harbours. 

- In March 2014 Juvénal commenced work at the Environmental  Research  Institute  in Thurso carrying out a six month project, looking at Tidal Turbulence Effects funded by NERC.  If you wish to be connected with this work which will help to de-risk tidal energy, please contact Juvénal at  juvenal.dufaur@caithnessrenewables.co.uk