Renewable Energy Installer December/January 2014 | Page 15

Q&A
Two minutes
with . . .
SEAN SOWDEN
Go Geothermal
Who are you?
Phil McVan, managing director, Urban Wind
What do you do?
We are a medium wind turbine project developer. Our teams
provide a full-cycle delivery from planning and feasibility studies to
construction and aftercare.
Where are you?
We are able to provide nationwide service throughout the UK, and
we have company offices in both Scotland and the North West of
England.
How’s business at the moment?
The market is getting stronger as the B2B markets recognise the
benefits of alternative energy against the backdrop of continually
increasing fossil fuel based energy. We find ourselves in demand as
wind turbines are being increasingly viewed as an attractive option.
However, the complicated local planning procedure is often difficult
to negotiate.
How could it be better?
We need a broader public and political acceptance that renewable
energy technologies are here to stay. In particular, local planning
authorities need to accept the need for renewable energy
generation.
Who do you admire in renewables?
I really admire Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, as he has
pioneered, in extremely difficult circumstances, the growth of wind
energy in the UK.
What’s the best business advice you have received?
“Opportunities don’t look like opportunities until you pick it up and
polish it to become real” – it takes a great deal of work, and attention
to detail, to build an initial opportunity into a successful project.
How are you going green?
As well as downsizing much of our vehicle fleet to smaller
hatchbacks, we also actively encourage a cycle-to-work scheme. A
significant number of our staff cycle to and from work each day, and
I like to do so myself as often as I can.
What have got planned for the next 12 months?
To further enhance our offering by continuing to
provide unrivalled products and a service which
is second to none.  We’ve got some exciting new
products which we’ll be releasing soon, re-
enforcing our status as the number one supplier of
all things ground and air source heat pump, district
heating and biomass.
What do you see as the growth areas in Renewables?
With the recent government announcement for the
domestic RHI for heat pumps along with an increase
in the commercial sector, I think heat pumps will be
very strong next year. Biomass and district heating
will continue to show good growth.
How is your company cutting its carbon footprint?
Our Midlands’ office is run purely from renewables
(both heat and electricity) and we hope to introduce
measures at our Head Office in County Durham
in the very near future. We also buy from British
manufacturers wherever possible which significantly
reduces the carbon footprint of our product offering.
Sean Sowden is a director at Go
Geothermal
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk | 15