The clean dream
25 February 2010
Tom Nixon, chairman of the EIC’s renewables council, shares his thoughts on the renewables market.
For everyone in the energy industry, renewable energy is a phrase that conjures up a number of thoughts and reactions. In any sector as traditional as the energy industry, where oil and gas have been key resources for the last half decade or more, there is always going to be some trepidation when it becomes apparent that we have to look further for our future needs. For some however, the challenge of thinking about new energy sources, whether it be wind, solar, tidal or geothermal energy, and the chance to become involved in creating the infrastructure for our future is a task that holds much appeal.
Tom Nixon, who has spent much of his career in the energy industry, particularly in the area of engineering and staffing is one of the new breed of industry insiders who finds the advent of renewable energy particularly exciting. In fact, Tom’s awareness of the issues facing the modern energy industry, which have been honed over the last four years in his role as European sales director at global resourcing specialist Talascend, have most recently led to his election as head of the Energy Industries Council’s chairmanship from 2009 to 2010.
It is with this recent election in mind that I spoke to Tom to gain an insight into his thoughts on renewable energy, and the manner in which is can compliment oil and as in the coming years. Immediately his passion for the topic became evident: “I think when looking at renewables nowadays the market seems far more viable. It used to be the case that they were seen in some circles as a bit of an add on to oil and gas and the more traditionally oriented businesses, but in all honestly I think that now is an extremely exciting time to be involved with the energy market. From a personal standpoint I have been working in the energy industry for some eight years or more and this is one of the most exciting areas I have seen develop, not only in terms of the technological advancements that are being made, but more importantly because it gives you a real sense of taking an active role in creating a brighter future for our planet.”
Tom’s enthusiasm is evident for all to see, and it is clear that his time in the energy industry has been a positive one, as he explains: “My background is predominantly based around the employment and staffing sectors. I have spent around 12 years in the staffing and resourcing industry, and eight in the energy industry. It is really during these last four years that I have witnessed a huge upsurge in both the want and the need for renewable energy, especially with the new 2020 targets that every nation in Europe is working towards.
“As I explained before, my interest in renewable energy is both a personal and a professional one. In my current role at Talascend we deal on a global basis finding qualified staff, and in the training and skilling of engineers across a number of industries, but the renewables industry has obviously been one of the biggest growth areas for us. One of the best points about this growth is the challenge that it will bring on a professional level for everyone involved in my field. If you look at the UK alone, at present the wind industry has around 5000 jobs, but it is predicated that this will grow in between 60,000 and 80,000 in the next ten years. I think it’s great that I’ll be involved in industry that is just showing massive growth potential”.
It is this growth, coupled with his obvious interest in the field of renewable energy that fuelled Tom’s desire to apply for the post as renewables council chairman at the EIC, as he explains: “As a company, Talascend has been involved with the EIC for a number of years. I became aware of the post some time ago, and obviously having a keen interest in that market I wanted to get involved if I could to be part of that growth and more importantly, help the UK be a leader in the market.
“I’ve been in the role for the last three months, so it is a new appointment but still an exciting position to hold”, he continues. “The EIC is a UK based company that has 600 members and acts as the lead organisation for UK companies supplying capital goods and services to the energy industry worldwide. It covers the entire energy spectrum, but because of the growth in the renewable sector it is a key part of the council now, to promote the UK supply chain across the world. Well, essentially it promotes UK companies, which is its primary function. So, we look to connect UK companies to that wider industry where we can and we will do everything in our power to do that to ensure that UK companies are at the forefront of supplying the industry.”
At the forefront of Tom’s strategy as renewables chairman at EIC is the promotion of UK companies in the expanding renewables market. As he explains, the UK is in a key position when it comes to leading the way in the burgeoning sector. “If you look at the products and projects on the go then yes, I really believe that the UK will have a vital role in the world’s future renewable energy demands. The new round three announcements by the Crown Estate could mean an investment of around £100 billion in the UK, which will make it the single largest renewable infrastructure project in the world. Aside from the wind developments we are also looking at the possibility of the largest biomass plant every to be built in Wales. It makes me very pleased to say that from a very small, standing start we have become a leading player in the European energy industry.”
What is particularly exciting about that fact for Tom, is that part of the EIC gets to shape the strategy for UK companies: “I would like to see UK businesses be very much involved with the various infrastructure projects,” he states enthusiastically. “I feel it is important to reiterate the quality of the UK companies in this market. What I want to see is rather than have a wind turbine be made in Germany and shipped to the UK we are hoping that we can really connect the UK to the supply base with that end user to make sure that we are involved. To do this we work very closely with the UK Government to look where investment is taking place to make sure that we can actually supply that. It is very much the same with the nuclear industry. If you look at a project to build a nuclear plant in the UK there is only something like 50 or 60 per cent of good and equipment to build that can be sourced in the UK at the moment. But obviously our goal is to make that 100 per cent.”
Of course, one of the most important questions on our readers lips will be how renewable energy will compliment the traditional oil and gas foundations that our industry has been based on. Thankfully, neither Tom’s enthusiasm for the renewable sector has nor his recent election at the EIC has clouded his judgment, and accordingly, he is the first to recognise the importance of oil and gas for the future energy needs.
“From a European standpoint the oil and gas market is still as needed as ever but we have to be fully aware that in the future that market may decline. I think that they can certainly stand side-by-side in the future. A lot of the companies that are in the renewable sector are born out of the oil and gas industry and a lot of the skills base and knowledge compliment each other extremely well. It used to be the case that renewable energy was seen as a bit of an add-on. Nowadays however, the targets are viable and the money is there so commercially it is important for these companies to be involved in a big way in the future.”
Tom’s optimism for the future of the energy industry and how renewables will fit into it is evident. And while there still may be challenges ahead, he enthusiastically concludes: “I think that renewable energy, particularly wind, can play a huge role in our future energy needs. What is most exciting for me is that each and every person involved with meeting these requirements is totally committed to the success of the projects. Personally, I am very much looking forward to the future, and my year in the role at EIC. The 2020 targets that we are working towards are steep but that only adds to the challenge for me. It makes the energy industry a modern and very satisfying sector to be in and I very much look forward to the coming years.”
