Independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables has appointed an experienced industry professional as its new head of technical.
Anne Stevenson brings almost two decades’ renewables and sustainability experience to her new role, which involves managing the technical aspects of Banks’ various renewable energy projects by enhancing supply chain strategies, supporting new project innovation and ensuring best practice is adopted across the firm’s growing project portfolio.
Her experience encompasses a range of different technologies, including onshore and offshore wind, hydrogen, solar and battery storage systems, and she has worked across every aspect of the development, delivery and operation of renewable energy projects.
She holds a master’s degree in renewable energy systems technology from Loughborough University, and earlier in her career, worked for the wind turbine manufacturer that supplied turbines to Banks Renewables on the development of its Armistead Wind Farm in Cumbria and Penny Hill Wind Farm in South Yorkshire.
Banks Renewables is one of the leading owner/operators in the UK onshore wind sector and currently operates ten onshore wind farms, with four in Yorkshire and two each in North East England, North West England and Scotland.
Its generating capacity is set to increase further this year with construction of the 15-turbine Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire due to be completed imminently, while it has also secured planning permission for the Lethans and Mill Rig Wind Farms in Scotland.
Alongside its onshore wind developments, Banks is also looking to deploy further renewable and flexible energy technologies at a number of new sites across Scotland and the north of England.
The company recently announced plans for a groundbreaking new green energy hub at the former Thorpe Marsh power station site near Doncaster, which includes what is thought to be the largest battery energy storage system currently being planned in the UK, and is also looking to develop a major new solar energy generation and battery energy storage project near Rotherham.
Anne Stevenson says: “I’d enjoyed working with the Banks team on their Armistead and Penny Hill Wind Farms, and it always felt like a very welcoming and friendly company, an impression that’s been fully reinforced since I joined.
“This is the first time I’ve worked on the development side of the renewables industry, and the experience I have in project development, supply chain management, technical analysis and in construction and operation phases will be key to fulfilling this new role.
“There’s been a huge amount of progress made in the renewable energy sector since I came into the industry, but there’s a lot more still to do and we’re going to see things like solar, battery storage and hydrogen power coming even more to the fore in the next few years.
“Banks’ portfolio covers a wide range of different projects and it’s been very interesting getting up to speed with everything that’s happening now and planned for the future.”
Andrew Liddell, development director at Banks Renewables, adds: “Anne has an impressive track record and a strong reputation in our sector, and with a wide range of projects in development across the business, it’s great to be adding her expertise to our team.
“Using the widest possible range of renewable energy generation technologies will allow the UK to work towards reaching its ‘net zero’ and climate change objectives more quickly, while also benefiting British consumers through lower energy prices.”