Press release: EMEC’s Caitlin Long shortlisted for Young Professional Award

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)’s Consents and Project Officer, Caitlin Long, has been shortlisted for the ‘Academic Award’ at the Scottish Renewables Young Professionals Green Energy Awards 2017.

Following in the footsteps of the hugely successful Scottish Green Energy Awards, this event run by Scottish Renewables recognises the contribution being made by the next generation of thinkers, shapers and decision makers in the renewable energy sector – one of Scotland’s proudest environmental and economic success stories.

The academic award is given each year to a talented graduate or student who has delivered exceptional work on a project or course.

Caitlin joined EMEC in 2014, having graduated with an MSc in Marine Renewable Energy from Heriot Watt’s Orkney Campus at the International Centre for Island Technologies, and has since worked tirelessly to streamline the consenting process for marine energy developers. She has worked closely with one wave and four tidal developers (Wello, Scotrenewables, Sustainable Marine Energy, Tocardo and Nautricity), guiding them through the consenting process to ensure that all the necessary licences and consents are in place to get their technology deployed at EMEC’s sites.

Supporting Caitlin’s nomination, Nikki Meek, Tocardo Project Development Manager, said:

“Caitlin has been a fantastic support to us in achieving our recent Marine Licence to deploy at EMEC. Her knowledge of the consenting regime in Scotland is exceptional and the relationships and respect that she has built up with the regulator and various stakeholders has been invaluable in assisting us in securing our consent in a tight timescale.

“Caitlin has a professional approach to dealing with both the developer and stakeholders etc. She has a good ability to understand the developer’s requirements and a pragmatic approach to achieving consents.”

In addition to her role in supporting consenting, Caitlin led EMEC’s wildlife observations project and resulting wildlife displacement study, as well as developing guidance on the consenting process as part of Wave Energy Scotland’s knowledge capture project.

Caitlin Long (Credit Colin Keldie)

Commenting on her nomination, Caitlin Long said:

“It’s an honour to be nominated for this award. Gaining the necessary licences and consents is a relatively unseen, but essential, part of the process of developing marine energy devices, so having this work recognised is most welcome.

“I love working with the many developers who wish to test their devices at EMEC, and facilitating their business relations with the various licensing authorities and stakeholders. It is a privilege working with some very inspirational people with exciting projects, and I’m delighted that they value the support I give them in getting their technologies into the water.”

Caitlin will find out if she has won the ‘Academic Award’ on Thursday 25 May at the Glasgow Science Centre when she attends this year’s Young Professionals Green Energy Awards, celebrating the best and brightest of our industry.

EMEC values all of Caitlin’s hard work and we wish her the best of luck!

For information on the awards, and the full list of all shortlisted nominees, visit: Young Professionals Green Energy Awards 2017