Hydro Conference 2021 Speakers

Simon Bailey

Senior Associate Director - Hydropower Global Technical Lead, Jacobs

Simon is a Senior Associate Director and Jacobs global technical lead for hydropower. He has over 40 years’ experience in water resources and hydropower planning for major water and energy infrastructure projects. He has extensive experience not only in the UK but also in the Middle East, Africa, SE Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. His particular expertise is in mathematical modelling and optimisation for water resources and hydropower projects worldwide.

He was involved with the original Foyers pumped storage scheme and on feasibility studies for small hydro with SSE. Later he was client liaison and programme engineer on the DfID funded Victoria dam and hydroelectric project, as well as a feasibility study for the Samanalawewa hydropower project, both in Sri Lanka, and was responsible for the planning and optimisation of the Lesotho Highlands water and hydropower project in Southern Africa. Recently he was involved in a technical due diligence assessment for the Dinorwig & Ffestiniog pumped storage plants and was involved with the preparation of the BEIS levelised cost report published in 2016, being responsible for the component on pumped hydro. Lately he has been involved with numerous hydropower and pumped storage planning studies in the Asia Pacific region.

Peter Diver

Head of Hydro Operations, SSE Renewables

Peter Diver is Head of Hydro Operations at SSE Renewables, the leading renewable energy owner, developer, and operator in the UK and Ireland. Peter leads the team delivering the safe and effective operations of SSE Renewables’ portfolio of Hydro Assets, setting them up for continued success and competitiveness in a rapidly changing business environment as we drive forward to a zero carbon electricity system and a net zero world. A passion for sustainability and low carbon intensity was central to Peter’s motivation to transition to the Renewables business from the Oil and Gas industry in 2007. Peter is a chartered Mechanical Engineer and member of the IMechE, and is an alumnus of Queen’s University Belfast, Curtin University of Technology and Glasgow Caledonian University.

Richard Gow

Policy & Government Relations Manager, Drax

Richard is a Policy and Government Relations manager for Drax Group and looks at policy developments across the energy space of interest to Drax including Carbon Capture and Storage and Pumped Storage Hydro. Richard leads on the development of policy mechanisms to support Drax’s Cruachan 2 project which aims to increase the generation capacity of the Cruachan pumped hydro facility in Scotland.

He sits on a number of industry and government working groups and committees and is a steering committee member of EnergyUK’s Young Energy Professionals forum which supports the next generation of energy industry professionals.

Robert Hull

Managing Director, Riverswan Energy Advisory

Bob Hull is an independent consultant who has previously held senior leadership roles with UK energy regulator Ofgem, National Grid, the UK Government, and consultancy firm KPMG. For over 30 years he has led or advised on many energy, telecoms and utility business investments, in the UK and worldwide. He has wide commercial and regulatory expertise and is currently focused on energy transition issues including power system flexibility. He recently authored a report on the policy options to enable long duration storage. He is an independent member of Ofgem’s RIIO-2 Challenge Group and ESO Performance Panel.

Sarah-Jane McArthur

Partner, Brodies LLP Solicitors

Sarah-Jane is an energy and projects lawyer with diverse experience across several sectors. In the energy sector, Sarah-Jane’s primary focus is on renewables and she has contributed to the successful delivery of many projects. Her experience includes advising developers, sponsors and lenders on a range of renewables projects including; windfarms (both on and offshore), hydro schemes, energy from waste and tidal technologies.

Sarah-Jane’s renewables expertise spans drafting and negotiating various contracts crucial for project development, including grid connection documents, construction and supply agreements and power purchase agreements. She also manages due diligence for project finance transactions and advises on the sale and purchase of development and operating assets. Sarah-Jane has supported developers and investors on renewables support mechanisms including applications for CfD.

Rob Nickerson

Electricity Market Modelling Manager, National Grid ESO

Rob has worked on the Future Energy Scenarios since 2015, initially joining from gas transmission. Having worked on both gas and electricity demands, Rob is now responsible for the electricity supply components of the scenarios. Beyond the FES, Rob and his team provide supporting data in to the Electricity Ten Year Statement, Network Options Assessment and Capacity Market processes.

Morag Watson

Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Morag is Scottish Renewables’ Director of Policy. Her work involves overseeing Scottish Renewables’ policy function and key projects within Scotland’s leading renewables trade body, working on behalf of 260+ organisations to grow Scotland’s renewable energy sector and sustain its position at the forefront of the global clean energy industry.

Morag has worked in policy for over 17 years and was previously a Senior Policy Officer with WWF Scotland, specialising in climate change, sustainable development and behaviour change.