Aquatera has a passion for renewable energy development, believing that it can provide substantial amounts of quality energy, which can be used to offset energy produced from carbon-emitting technologies.
In addition to experience in renewable energy, Aquatera and its associates have a vast knowledge of wider environmental and social studies, particularly in offshore and coastal areas. The team has completed numerous research projects, including a number funded by government bodies, and are expert practitioners in their various fields. Aquatera’s IT, multimedia and graphic design specialists are also leaders in their respective fields.
Aquatera has won a number of awards, including the 2001 BP Helios Awards and the 2002 Highlands and Islands Enterprise Business of the Year Awards. Aquatera received a Highlands and Islands Small Business of the Year Commendation in 2003, and a Scottish Planning Awards Commendation in 2007 for its part in developing The Highland Council’s renewable energy strategy.
In 2008, Aquatera was invited to participate in an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan Business School. During his visit there, Gareth Davies, Aquatera’s MD, realised how vital the intellectual assets of MIT were to the organisation and how they were driving both the growth of MIT and that of the local community. Naturally Orkney operates on a different scale, but Gareth realised that there were a number of parallels between the two communities. Both employ innovative and imaginative, creative people and he wanted to find a way of identifying, capturing and exploiting this local talent.
At a Scottish Renewables conference some three years ago he met Jackie Maguire of CIPM. As Gareth Davies says, “Following this meeting, Jackie came up and spent some time here with us and she now understands the nature of doing business in an island location. It is somewhat different from how it usually works on the mainland. Everyone knows you and your business and there is total transparency with your activities. This can be a major advantage, as it encourages loyalty and co-operation between businesses, rather than competition.”
Because the local community is so close-knit, Aquatera works very closely and effectively with other organisations within it. As Gareth says, “We are running a very successful business – we are on the threshold of huge opportunity both locally and with global emphasis on renewables we anticipate that our international growth will increase. We see CIPM being a long-term partner in helping us protect and commercialise our unique assets.”
Web address: www.aquatera.co.uk