Technical Consultancy & Training

Simon joined CSE in February 2007. He has extensive technical expertise of renewable energy systems and over 20 years consultancy experience.

Simon leads CSE’s technical expertise and is responsible for maintaining CSE’s national reputation for delivering technically robust sustainable energy initiatives, advice, training and consultancy services. Simon and his team ensure that all of CSE’s work is informed by an understanding of relevant technical matters.

His role includes directing a programme of activities with the planning community to raise awareness of, and disseminate information about, renewable energy and relevant Government policy and planning processes. Delivered on behalf of the DECC and CLG, the programme provides workshops for planners, councillors and inspectors on the technical and planning aspects of different renewable energy technologies. It has also developed a network of experts to offer advice to the planning community, and has built a Planning Renewables website, which contains a ‘resource bank’ of relevant policy and technical information.

He has also managed the South West Bioheat Programme, which assisted both private and public clients to install large-scale biomass heating plant across the South West of England. By engaging the most promising schemes and offering individual tailored help (in areas such as site feasibility, system specification, fuel negotiations, funding applications, planning liaison and site visits) the programme supported more than 30 sites for biomass wood fuel installation. It is currently on target to deliver an additional 30-40MW of installed capacity, which would nearly double the South West’s installed renewable heat capacity.

Simon supervised the Coordinated Woodfuel Initiative, which is assisted both individuals and community groups to install small- and domestic-scale biomass heating system across the South West of England.

He has also provided the technical and policy content of a university-based training package to help qualifying and existing planners and development control officers in London promote and develop responses to climate change. This was developed for the London Energy Partnership with the aid of London Boroughs of Haringey, Islington and Merton.

His role has also included delivering advice to a major house builder on options for energy efficiency and renewable energy in a significant new housing development in Worthing; examining the role of energy service companies (ESCOs) in reducing CO2 emissions in the UK, particularly looking at the opportunities and barriers faced by ESCOs in relation to microgeneration and low carbon energy; and reviewing the costs and financial incentives involved in “green” building and in particular those involved in, the predecessor of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the EcoHomes assessment method.

Simon holds an MSc in Environmental and Energy Studies from the University of East London (at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth). The focus of his research was on low-carbon buildings and renewable energy solutions. In his previous career as a management consultant with KPMG and Capgemini, Simon played a leading role in delivering both large- and small-scale consultancy projects. For example, in the telecoms sector he designed and managed a £10m project which enabled a new mobile phone company to launch in the UK. Similarly, in the financial services sector he developed a blueprint for an innovative trading solution for a consortium of international banks. Over the course of his 20 plus year career in the industry Simon worked with many of the leading technology and service providers to design and implement innovative solutions.

simon.lewin@cse.org.uk | 0117 934 1411

Rachel joined CSE in May 2005, initially as a Senior Development Manager, and worked on project development for her first few years at CSE. She is currently the manager of the PlanLoCaL programme.

PlanLoCaL (Planning for Low Carbon Living) is a three-year programme of work funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Projects within the programme include: the development of a DVD resource pack for communities wishing to establish community-owned renewable energy projects; a support website on low-carbon planning; an action research project working with a range of groups in Bath to produce planning policy guidance on how best to incorporate renewable energy in a heritage setting; and an ambitious community consultation process in an ex-mining area which aims to establish a Renewable Energy Action Area, enshrined in local planning policy.

Rachel also contributes to technical consultancy projects, and is currently managing the development of Carbon Reduction Action Plans for two local authorities in the South West.

As a Senior Development Officer, Rachel was the driving force behind the development of several of our biggest projects including Our Big Energy Challenge, and Warming Bristol. She also worked with the Forestry Commission and the offices of ten Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to access European Funding to establish the Coordinated Woodfuel Initiative, which supported the installation of domestic-scale biomass heating in the South West of England.

She has a particular interest in the biomass industry, since, prior to joining CSE, she worked in commercial forestry for six years and undertook research in China on short-rotation forestry for fuel production. Rachel has a BSc in Environmental Science, an MSc in Forest Management and an MA in Environment, Policy and Society.

rachel.coxcoon@cse.org.uk | 0117 934 1426

Louisa joined CSE in September 2007 to work within the Technical Services team. She previously worked as a Planning Officer where her interest in sustainable energy enabled her to contribute to the development of local renewable energy policy.

During this time she gained an MSc in Spatial Planning, where she investigated whether past barriers to developing renewable energy policy had been overcome. Louisa has also worked within a fashion buying team and for an ethical retailer and holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Birmingham.

Louisa’s main focus at CSE is working on a programme of work on behalf of DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) and CLG (Department for Communities and Local Government). The aim of the programme is to work with the planning community (inspectors, planning officers and councillors) to improve their knowledge and understanding of renewable energy policy, technologies and associated issues.

louisa.haines@cse.org.uk | 0117 934 1435

Martin joined CSE as Technical Project Manager in May 2002 and holds an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology and BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science. He also holds engineering qualifications, having served an apprenticeship with Rolls Royce plc, Bristol, after which he served for three years within the Test Measurement Department.

His career experience also includes working overseas for an environmental consultancy in Ecuador, where he worked on implementing pollution control and energy-saving techniques in industry, and initiated a feasibility study on rural electrification using renewable sources of energy. More recently, Martin worked for PV Systems Ltd in Cardiff as a project engineer and was responsible for designing and installing monitoring systems for renewable energy installations both in the UK and abroad.

Martin's main role within CSE is to manage a portfolio of projects that are technical in nature. These include renewable energy feasibility studies and the management of energy audits within the private and public sectors. He also assists in the provision of general technical support throughout CSE.

martin.holley@cse.org.uk | 0117 934 1419

Madlen joined CSE in September 2009 as a Project Manager in the Technical Consultancy team. She previously worked as a Planning Consultant for GVA Grimley Ltd where she advised private developers, local authority officers and statutory consultees on a wide variety of planning policy and development issues.

Her career experience to date includes working for a number of private sector planning consultancies, where she has gained a breadth of experience working with planning officers and councillors, on a variety of development projects and evidence base studies. She holds a BSc (Hons) in City and Regional Planning and a Diploma in Town Planning.

Madlen’s main focus at CSE is our programme of work with the planning community on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). The aim of this programme is to improve this community's knowledge and understanding of renewable energy policy, technologies and associated issues.

madlen.hutton@cse.org.uk | 0117 934 1415

Anna is currently on maternity leave.

Anna joined CSE in April 2005 and provides bespoke training solutions to a wide range of clients, including public sector and private companies, as well as community groups. These range from half-day workshops to long-term contracts providing ongoing training and support over several years. She also regularly delivers the popular City and Guilds 6176 Energy Awareness course on behalf of National Energy Action.

Anna leads on the training and awareness-raising elements of projects such as Our Big Energy Challenge­, a three year project which aimed to reduce energy usage in the Bath and North East Somerset Local Strategic Partnership by 10%. Anna is also a valued member of the Green Communities team and regularly delivers the whole suite of Green Communities courses to groups across the UK.

Before joining CSE, Anna worked as an in-house trainer for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which she joined after graduating with a degree in Geography and Sociology. Her role at DWP included developing and delivering training to managers, trainers and external consultants throughout the South West. Anna is an experienced and well-qualified trainer, holding the CIPD Certificate in Training Practice and the Certificate in Education (Post Compulsory Education and Training).

anna.watts@cse.org.uk | 0117 934 1429