Windcluster Ltd. Directors

Windcluster has 50 shareholders, a group of private individuals who hold all the shares between them. Many were amongst the visionary first group who backed the original Haverigg windcluster.

Along the way many others have been central to the success of the company, including Stephen Andrews, Euan Cameron, Bill Withycombe, Glyn England, Liz Reason and our patient landowners, the Craghill family.

Chairman BOB MAGGS

Bob.jpg

After a long career in the IT industry, including responsibility for external affairs and corporate responsibility I latterly spent several years working in the voluntary sector as a Director of the Centre for Sustainable Energy and General Manager of the Bristol Energy Centre. I have long held, strong views about the need for moving the UK towards a clean energy future.

I have also been involved in other organisations concerned with sustainable development and better integration of the private, public and voluntary sectors for the benefit of local communities and am currently working as a volunteer (Regional Coordinator) with Volunteering Matters’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme.​​

I joined the Board of Windcluster Ltd as Chair in 1996 and remain still active in ensuring that the company takes full advantage of the opportunities in wind power and other renewable energy sources.

Colin Palmer

I have been active in renewable energy since the late 1970s when I worked in the UK’s original wave energy programme. I was then one of the founders of a start-up company that pioneered the design and manufacture of wood epoxy wind turbine blades in the UK. In 1988 I established Windcluster Ltd to undertake wind energy development. Windcluster was a pioneer in the UK and developed and built one of the first commercial wind energy projects at Haverigg in Cumbria.

The project was financed by private shareholders and continues to be owned and operated by the company. Subsequently I co-founded Wind Prospect Group Ltd, another renewable energy company that grew from 2 to 250 people in ten years and was active in markets around the globe. At Wind Prospect I was responsible for developing new wind energy markets for the Group, including onshore wind energy in the Fenlands of the UK and the Burbo offshore project. I lead the company’s diversification into marine renewable technologies and solar energy. During this time I also held a number of external positions including board membership of RenewablesUK and RegenSW and a trusteeship of the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol.

More recently I have become the Chair of Wight Community Energy, the owner of a 4MW solar project on the Isle of Wight and have managed to find time to study for a PhD on the topic of pterosaur flight.

 

David Bunker

I have been a practising Chartered Accountant since the early 1980s and have steadily increased my involvement with the renewables sector.

I have been the Finance Director of Windcluster since 1996, and have acted during the period since as a Director of a number of organisations including the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Sustain Ltd, Bath & West Community Energy Ltd and Mongoose Energy Ltd.

I am inspired to work towards the creation of an energy sector which is both financially sound and committed to ethical principles.

 

MIKE SMITH

Mike.jpg

Although I trained as an engineer and have a D Phil in gas turbines, I spent my career arranging finance for major projects. I worked in a number of different fields at various times and in many countries around the world. I was heavily involved in the initial development of privately owned power stations in the UK, and in particular in the renewable energy sector.

Having met the founders of Windcluster through my contacts in the industry, in a private capacity I became one of the founder shareholders in the company. It was fortunate that in 2003, when there was a need for a major fundraising to finance the expansion of Haverigg, I had just retired so I was able to join the Board and assist in this exercise.

I am currently active as a Parish and District Councillor. In my District Council, I am the Portfolio Holder for the Environment. I have been responsible for a number of solar energy installations and energy efficiency measures.

Partners

Community Partners