SHORT BACKGROUND
Cierco is an independent renewable energy project development company established in 2001 with a simple goal - to engage in the field of offshore wind power and to drive technologies and projects to reach cost levels competitive with those of conventional power.
We achieve this by building hands-on experience through multiple project steps from first demonstrator deployments to larger pre-commercial and commercial arrays. Our ambition is to generate value for our customers by delivering balanced sustainable projects. Our conviction is to provide solutions that avoid negative environmental impacts, create well-paying local jobs through a comprehensive local and regional supply chain, and provide a clean power solution for local, national, and global needs.
In Spring 2021, Cierco and SBM Offshore formed a joint venture named Floventis Energy. Together, our group takes a position among the leaders in floating wind power development. We are already driving projects in the United States and the UK from 60 MW to 200 MW, and we are seeking to pursue even larger projects from 900 MW to multi-GW.
Joint Venture
A GLOBAL TEAM
Cierco was founded by Mikael Jakobsson in 2001. Two decades later, in early 2021, the company went through a corporate restructuring to better respond to our existing projects and also to more strongly seize future commercial opportunities. We today have main offices in Aberdour, Scotland, and Palm Springs, California.
In May of 2021, Cierco signed a milestone agreement with one of the world’s largest companies in the floating offshore energy sector, SBM Offshore. The two companies formed a 50/50 joint venture, Floventis Energy Ltd., to drive the project portfolio of floating offshore wind in both the United States and the UK. Floventis provides strong capabilities from development to delivery, and its competent team prides itself on being able to take forward innovative projects from conceptual stage to steel in the water. See more details on the Projects Page.
Our team has a wide international network that allows us to meet all project needs and challenges. We provide a range of offshore wind management activities; including:
- Raising Capital and Finance
- Resource assessment and analysis to determine potential sites with appropriate resource
- Detailed constraints mapping and surveying to select the best sites
- Consenting sites (including Environmental Impact Assessment)
- Designing, testing and developing the offshore wind technology
- Managing the installation program for offshore wind technologies (including onshore infrastructure as well as offshore installation)
- Operation and maintenance of the Offshore Wind Developments
- Development and implementation of Decommissioning Programs
Mikael Jakobsson Founder and Chairman
Mikael founded CIERCO Corporation in 2001. With 33 years in the wind sector he has held several commercial and senior management roles in technology and projects (Wind World, BTM, Enron, EDF/Airicole and 2B Energy). Engagement in offshore wind started with first offshore wind turbine in 1989, and has included several key projects since.
Scott Harper
Managing Director
Scott brings 20 years of wide-ranging experience from project development, finance and undertaking strategic projects developing markets. Over the last 10 years, Scott has been engaged in the offshore wind sector managing technology innovation and project development.
Marc Murray
Projects Director
With a 20 year track record in managing complex multi-stage energy projects, Marc brings wide-ranging experience of project development in the nuclear, wave energy and offshore wind fields. Marc is responsible for the project development activities within the company.
Robert Collier
Director of External Relations
Rob brings 30 years of experience in clean energy research, political strategy and communications in the California and U.S. renewable energy sector. As a consultant for climate policy think tanks, academic expert at University of California at Berkeley, and newspaper reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle, he dissected the interlocking webs of policy and politics that have shaped energy decision-making on government and enterprise levels. Rob is responsible for government relations, communications, and labor and workforce engagement for CIERCO.
David Keenlyside
Engineering Director
David is a Chartered Structural Engineer by trade and brings
some 30 years’ experience with unique offshore experience
from decades of design, delivery & management of complex
projects in a multi-discipline & multi-locational environment, delivering cost effective design solutions. David has 10 years of engineering experience in offshore wind projects from concept through FEED, detailed design, manufacturing, fabrication to installation and operation, lately with focus on the floating wind sector.
Alex Gauntt
Supply Chain Director
Since 2005 Alex has been involved in the development, planning and construction of on- and offshore wind projects across the world with a focus on Europe and the UK. Having worked as Project Manager, Project Developer as well as representing industry leading Tier 1 & Tier 2 service and equipment suppliers in Sales & Business Development functions, he brings an in-depth understanding of the renewable and specifically offshore wind supply-chains.
Soraya Smith
Project Administrator
Soraya is an experienced administrator accomplished in bringing co-ordination and structure to projects.
Her international work experience brings a diverse skill set to the CIERCO team. Her superb
organisational skills combined with an excellent ability to bring people together ensures our projects run seemlessly.
Miriam Noonan
Commercial Manager
Miriam is an accomplished analyst with 8 years experience in the energy sector across including oil and gas, wave/tidal and offshore wind. With an asset management background and in-depth knowledge of offshore renewables cost modelling, Miriam also has a demonstrated track record of thought leadership and authoring key reports during her time at ORE Catapult. Miriam is responsible for the development of high-quality business cases for CIERCO’s offshore wind projects. Commercial Manager
Gemma Lee
Project Development Manager
Gemma is an EIA specialist with experience managing the consenting process for a wide range of renewable energy schemes involving large, multi-disciplinary teams. Her experience in understanding processes and topics in the detail, including both onshore and offshore developments across the UK, makes Gemma an important part of the CIERCO team.
Cory Barringhaus
Development and Permitting Manager
Cory brings 17 years of experience working in California as an environmental analyst and project manager for a wide range of renewable energy projects. He has been engaged in the preparation of environmental and planning documents in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for projects in the wind, port, and marine sectors, as well as transmission work for the California Public Utilities Commission.
Anish John Paul
SR Structural Engineer
Anish brings extensive technical engineering knowledge to CIERCO; having a background in turbine/substructure modeling and tower/foundation designs, Anish has also developed independently certified new methodologies and models for the design of jacket structures.
Selin Yildiz Nielsen
Executive Coordinator
Selin has a PhD from University of California and has unique understanding of corporate and governmental processes having been responsible for organizations and projects throughout for many years. She brings an in-depth knowledge of corporate structures and has been directly involved coordinating both federal and local grant programs in various fields. Her expertise in managing organizations in multicultural settings is an asset to our multinational team at Cierco.
David Vallee
Supply Chain Manager
David has two master’s degrees, one of which is in mechanical engineering and the other one in coastal
engineering.
He has been operating for the marine renewable industry and offshore technologies in the field of
products and activities development since 2005 in Europe, the USA, and South America.
David’s triple expertise in mechanical engineering, coastal engineering and business development has
allowed him to gain experience with a large range of technologies used offshore, and to develop an
extended professional network around the globe.
EXAMPLES OF PAST PROJECTS FROM
THE TEAM EXPERIENCES BASE
Below are a few projects that team members have been involved in the past. Reaching back to the very first offshore wind turbine back in 1989, our past project experiences enable and inform our forward strategy.
(2015)
6.2 MW TURBINE
2B ENERGY INNOVATIVE TURBINE “CLEAN SHEET” DESIGN
(2014 - 2015)
Full Jacket Tower
FIRST FULL-SIZE JACKET TOWER AND FOUNDATION DESIGN AND BUILD
(2010 - 2015)
Aquamarine
DEVELOPMENT/BUILD INCLUDING TESTING OF OYSTER FIRST DEMOS AND OYSTER 800
(2007)
THE HYDROGEN OFFICE
FACILITY WITH HYDROGEN AND 750KW WIND TURBINE IN FIFE, SCOTLAND
(2005 - 2008)
Fife Energy Park
CREATION OF AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN FIFE, SCOTLAND
(2005)
Beatrice Project
2x 5MW DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON FIRST JACKET FOUNDATIONS, SCOTLAND
(2003)
UTGRUNDEN STATION
REBUILD OF LIGHTHOUSE TO A RESEARCH STATION IN SWEDEN
(2002)
Sash System
DESIGNED, TESTED AND CERTIFIED NEW SHIP MOORING SYSTEM
(2001)
Middlegrunden
21x 2MW TURBINES – FOUNDATION DESIGN IN COPENHAGEN HARBOUR
(2000)
UTGRUNDEN Project
7x 1.5MW PROJECT DESIGNED AND BUILT IN KARLMARSAND, SWEDEN
(1991 - 1996)
Swanmill 1 & 2
MULTIPLE WIND FARMS MANAGEMENT IN PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
(1989)
Nogersund
1x 220KW - THE FIRST OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE IN THE WORLD BUILT IN SWEDEN