Energy market specialist Alan Smallwood. Image: Anesco.
Anesco has appointed a new optimisation director as it continues to overhaul its management team.
Energy market specialist Alan Smallwood is joining the renewable energy company to help develop Anesco’s third-party market optimisation service. This will use market intelligence to allow investors to drive greater value from renewable assets day-to-day and inform future investment choices.
Mark Futyan, CEO of Anesco, explained: “The addition of a route to market service for our customers will enable Anesco to become a full service partner for renewable energy investors, delivering asset development, construction, O&M, revenue optimisation and repowering.”
Smallwood is joining the company from utility giant Centrica, where he acted as director of UK power markets. This role included leading Centrica’s UK power forecasting capability and looking after Centrica’s battery storage portfolio.
He commented that Anesco was a “dynamic company” that is well placed to support decarbonisation.
“If the country is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, then we’re going to need greater levels of renewable energy and solar and storage will play a big part in that. Supporting investors to achieve the optimal yield and returns from such assets will therefore be crucial, especially in a post-subsidy world.
“It is a rather unusual time to have started in a new job and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and meeting my colleagues and customers in person at a later date.”
Smallwood is the second new appointment to come from Centrica in recent months, with ex-Centrica director Futyan announced as its new chief executive officer in February, replacing the outgoing Kevin Mouatt.
This followed Solar Power Portal exclusively revealing major changes to the company’s management team earlier this year. This included executive chairman Steve Shine and chief executive Kevin Mouatt both leaving the firm.
Futyan said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Alan on board. Having previously worked together at Centrica, I know he will be an asset to the team. His experience in navigating energy markets will be invaluable as we look to build on our strong track record and continue to drive the growth of renewables in the UK.”
Anesco currently has 1GW of assets under management in the UK, along with c.100MW of assets that the company owns and operates.
In April, it powered up a 12MW solar farm in Buckinghamshire following completion of the site.