My alarm goes off at … 6.20am
I prepare for the day ahead by … Grabbing a cup of tea, looking at my calendar, and writing a to-do list to get me started. It helps me to plan out what I want to achieve by the end of the day.
I can’t leave the house without … An audiobook or music on in the car – I’m currently ‘reading’ Butter by Asako Yuzuki.
My typical day… Every day is different – which is why I love the role so much! I usually start by checking my emails and seeing what new technology requests have come in. I then write my plan for the day and settle in to do some work.
If we have an MCS Working Group meeting coming up I’ll spend some time familiarising myself with the agenda, making sure I’m up to speed on all of the key points.
During the working group meetings, we speak to manufacturers, trade associations and certification bodies from across the small-scale renewables sector – they’re the ones who create and maintain our standards. Their input is really important to us, as they ensure that all requirements are relevant, accurate, and work practically for industry – it’s all about ensuring efficiency and safety.
I also spend a lot of time working on research projects where I need to gather and analyse information from stakeholders. I’m currently working on an exciting ‘technology roadmap’ project for solar PV that aims to identify key social, political and economic developments that have driven the adoption and evolution of solar PV technology.
I’m excited to see what insights we gain from this research and how it will guide us in advancing and encouraging the adoption of other renewable technologies, such as heat pumps, to replicate the success seen with solar PV.
My most memorable work moment … Attending the first ever Heat Pump Summit at the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford last April! It was fascinating to learn about the latest ‘hot topics’ in heat pump technology and the primary challenges the industry is currently tackling, such as bridging the gap between training and heat pump deployment, ensuring quality installations, and boosting consumer awareness of the benefits of heat pumps.
I also got the opportunity to speak with industry experts such as Gráinne Regan, head of heat at OVO, who I’ve since interviewed as part of the solar PV ‘technology roadmap’ project. I also attended a talk by Dr Jan Rosenow on how the UK can develop a mass market for heat pumps drawing on experiences from around the world, particularly Swedish countries.
Sweden is a world leader for heat pumps, so it was really interesting to learn about the role of carbon taxation, government incentives and regulations that are driving heat pump uptake.
The worst part of my job … The journey into work, but I’m looking at cutting my commute down soon!
The best part of my job … Feeling like I’m making a difference to the renewables industry and the UK’s path to cleaner and greener energy. As my job is very technical, we have lots of industry issues to address – but when we do get to provide a solution or finish a paper, it’s very satisfying as you know what a difference it could make to the industry.
I relax after work by … Cooking up a nourishing meal with lots of spices, vegetables, and pickled food – I’m so glad that salad season is here! I also like to get outside as much as possible on the weekends – there’s so many great hiking trails to explore and I love being outdoors.
On my bedside table is … ‘Mother Night’ by Kurt Vonnegut – a fantastic book that I’m currently reading.
The last thing I do each day is … Brew a nice herbal sleep tea (usually lemon balm and lavender), get washed up, and watch some TV or read my book before bed.
I’m normally in bed by … 8.00pm – I possibly love to sleep a bit too much!
Images: MCS