The Crown Estate Scotland has appointed Colin Palmer to lead the development of offshore renewable energy and aquaculture for the public body that manages leasing of Scotland’s seabed.
As Head of Marine, Palmer’s role will also include carbon capture & storage and cables & pipelines.
Crown Estate Scotland manages virtually all seabed out to 12 nautical miles – covering shellfish growing and fish farms, and cables & pipelines for telecommunications and oil & gas – as well as the rights to renewable energy and gas storage out to 200 nautical miles.
The Crown Estate Scotland team are currently developing a new leasing round for offshore wind to allow more projects to be built late 2020s onwards, and also manage around 750 finfish farm leases and a programme of R&D to improve sustainability in aquaculture.
Palmer, who is currently delivery director with Kite Power Systems, said: “Scotland’s seas are hugely important to our economy and our environment so joining the organisation that manages seabed leasing, and a team that has real depth and breadth of expertise, is an incredibly exciting prospect.”
Crown Estate Scotland chief executive, Simon Hodge, said: “Research tells us that our tenants and partners really value the expertise of our people. As we develop our long-term approach to managing seabed, coastline and land for the benefit of businesses and communities across Scotland, Colin’s appointment further strengthens our ability to contribute to a ‘Blue Economy’ boom for Scotland.”
Palmer’s experience to date includes working for Airtricity, a renewable energy company which was acquired by SSE in 2008, undertaking a number of roles in onshore wind farm development.
He was Project Manager for the Beatrice offshore wind farm up until consent in 2014 then Asset Manager for SSE on the Forewind consortium’s Dogger Bank offshore wind developments off the Yorkshire coast, during a period in which 2.4GW was consented, as well as being Board Director on SSE’s JV with Aquamarine on the Brough Head wave energy development.
Colin has also worked in oil & gas as a commercial & development manager for SSE Exploration & Production.