Orecon welcomes new Business Development Director

Orecon, the southwest based wave to energy developer, which has caught the attention of the renewable energy community internationally, is also attracting significant personnel to the team. Ken Street has joined the company to become Orecon's new Business Development Director, bringing 30 years of experience in offshore marine technology developments from major naval and commercial marine projects to today's renewable energy sector.

Ken has played lead roles in many major projects including managing the electrical systems in the world's first dynamically positioned oil production vessel; sponsoring the development of high temperature superconductors for application in the marine and hydro renewables industry; establishing a strategic working alliance with a UK turbine builder to create a high efficiency integrated impulse turbo generator package for use in renewable energy capture and he also has extensive experience in the application of offshore electrical power, propulsion and automation systems.

Ken has moved to Cornwall from Rugby, previously being employed at Converteam, in a senior position in their Renewables Division. Ken was responsible for technology selection, strategic partnering and inspiring the innovation necessary to establish a vibrant marine renewable energy business. Converteam are the UK's largest independent supplier of electrical systems to the renewables market with many thousands of systems installed worldwide.

Ken said: "I have known Orecon for many years since its inception at the University of Plymouth. Even at that early stage I recognised the Orecon MRC as having excellent technical merit and backing from impressive people with a real determination to succeed The team has all the appropriate knowledge and skills as well as the right attitude and experience required for overcoming the tremendous challenges of operating for prolonged periods in a hostile marine environment.

He continued:  ‘The Orecon MRC's simplicity, high efficiency, incredible power density and the fact that they are being designed and built to recognised international marine standards come together in a product that I really want to help into the water. The decision to join Orecon has been one of the easiest I've ever had to make."

David Crisp, CEO of Orecon added: "We are at a very exciting stage of development. Our work has been endorsed by an international group of astute Venture Capitalists and enquiries are coming in every day from experts and the interested from all over the world. Ken's expertise and experience can only make it all the more likely to succeed and put Cornwall right at the centre of the map for wave to energy development ."

Orecon will deploy their first buoy off 2010 with follow on units being deployed from 2011/12.

For further information please contact Rachael Clayton at Ashley Public Relations on (01579) 370991