Merlin leads Regen's mission to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon energy system. Under his leadership, Regen has developed into a leading organisation shaping the strategic pathway to a clean energy future.While focusing on the systemic challenges of decarbonising power, heat and transport, Merlin is a leading voice in grid connection reform, chairing NESO's Connections Reform Advisory Group. He also sits on several leading forums, including DESNZ/Ofgem's Connections Delivery Board.

Merlin has spent his career working for solutions to the climate crisis, championing public policies that unlock the power of businesses and communities to transform our energy system. Previously, he was a director of the Environmental Industries Commission, where he worked in Whitehall and Westminster to ensure government support for companies providing environmental solutions. Merlin is also a non-executive director for Communities for Renewables. He is an influential figure in energy policy and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to sustainable energy.

Merlin can often be found attempting yoga or messing about on boats in Devon.

Joe holds years of experience in grid connections and has helped develop a strong pipeline of solar and energy storage assets, including co-located sites.

Innova’s mission is to create utility-scale renewable energy projects using multi-technologies, to provide clean energy to communities and businesses both directly and indirectly, and to take large energy users off-grid whilst meeting or exceeding our environmental obligations.

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Nikki is one of the most respected and well-liked individuals in the connections community.

Since achieving an MSc in Energy Policy from the University of Exeter, Nikki has worked in the energy industry for eight years, with five of those as a grid connection specialist. Most recently she has headed up the grid connections function at GRIDSERVE, where she managed connections for all its EV charging forecourts and utility-scale renewables projects.

Prior to GRIDSERVE, Nikki spent three years at British Solar Renewables – where she headed up the grid team managing its connections for a diverse range of solar and storage installations.

As well as spearheading the origination, safeguarding, de-risking, project-management and energisation of a large number of connections, Nikki has led the grid oversight in a significant volume of both project acquisitions and project sales. She knows how to make an attractive connection, and the costly pitfalls to avoid.

Nikki sits on a number of DNO’s connections steering groups, two Regen working groups (their Grid Connections Working Group, and their Review of Electricity Market Arrangements Working Group) and the Solar Energy UK Grid Steering Group. She uses her considerable influence to promote and disseminate connections best practice, and to bring about incremental improvements in technical and commercial policies that accelerate the deployment of low carbon technologies.

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