Spanish star signs for North East outfit

A globally renowned scientist from Spain’s national centre for renewable energy has left the organisation after 20 years to join its UK equivalent in Northumberland.

The National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth has announced the appointment of Ignacio Marti´ as chief technology officer.

The new CTO post has been created to support the rapid expansion of Narec’s testing and research capabilities, following a recent £110m investment in new facilities.

Ignacio joins Narec from CENER in Spain, where he spent almost 20 years and worked up to the executive position of technical director for research & development.

The physics graduate was responsible for the planning and delivery of all research and technical activities and has represented CENER on a number of international research committees and his technical research has been widely published.

Narec chief executive Andrew Mill said: “Ignacio is an internationally recognised wind expert and brings with him a European network spanning across research and industry.  He has a proven track record of initiating and delivering high-profile R&D programmes, and he will play an important role in growing our testing and research operations.”

Ignacio Marti, whose family have now moved to the North East, said: “Narec is a key enabler for the offshore renewables industry and is expanding operations at the right time to support the up-scaling of technologies.  I am looking forward to working with both commercial clients and R&D partners on projects to bring new products to the market sooner.”