Simon De Pietro is a director and CEO of DP Energy, a family run firm with big plans for tidal generation. DP Energy is committed to delivering sustainable renewable energy projects for the benefit of the planet, investors, staff and other stakeholders. The company believes that this mission is becoming more and more critical to ensure greater energy security across the globe.
De Pietro says political instability in eastern Europe and other areas of the world where gas and oil are sourced is increasing concerns over the potential threat of black-outs and outtages across Europe.
“Europe has recently been exposed first hand to the volatility in the cost of fossil fuel imports and the growing threat of interruption of gas supplies through the pipe lines from eastern Europe as well as coal and oil supplies being made more vulnerable," he says. "Consequently any form of indigenous sustainable energy such as marine, wind, and solar is important in order to reduce this exposure. In addition to saving energy we also need to find methods of best utilising our renewable energy resources by finding alternative uses or innovative methods of storage and by active management of generation and electricity distribution.
“Tidal energy is particularly useful as it can be scheduled. It is not weather driven and is therefore predictable, being primarily driven by gravity and the moon," he adds. "The huge advantage of tidal power is that we can precisely forecast how much electricity we can generate for the entire life of the equipment. As we know wind can produce significant energy; the tides can do likewise but are 100% predictable. We can predict, for example, exactly what power we will be producing on the 14th of May 2036, at 4:15 in the morning."
“DP Energy's focus in the marine sector is on tidal energy in UK & Irish waters and the Canadian Maritimes - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick," says Mr De Pietro. "In addition to the 100MW Fair Head project, we are also working on an Orkney Islands site, the 200MW Westray South project and a 30MW project off West Islay in South West Scotland which is currently also going through a consenting process with Marine Scotland. We have a number of other irons in the fire which we expect to make announcements on over the coming months but essentially the plan is to build a portfolio of de-risked, shovel ready, or perhaps bucket ready, projects utilising credible technology suppliers for a collective portfolio funding round".
DP Energy recently became a lead sponsor of Ocean Energy Europe, the trade association for renewable ocean energy in Europe, and is sponsoring the forthcoming Ocean Energy Europe 2014 Conference in Paris in October to affirm DP Energy's commitment to the ocean energy sector. The move places DP Energy firmly at the centre of the industry. De Pietro has been a tireless advocate of ocean energy and is determined to bring the positivity and enthusiasm, which he feels, to the decision-making tables of Brussels. "DP Energy is committed to the delivery of marine energy projects and is delighted to be working with Ocean Energy Europe and the key ocean renewable industry members to help deliver together, what will be a significant and key part of the sustainable energy future for Europe", he concludes.
DP Energy has produced some 215MW onshore built projects. Projects generating 117MW are now with consents.
