Awarded at All-Energy for his impact in marine renewables, Jonathon reflects on his journey—from leading the USA’s first licensed tidal project to growing with SUT’s Marine Renewable Energies Committee (MREC).
We caught up with Jonathon to find out more about his journey in the marine renewable energy sector.
🔹 What first sparked your interest in marine renewable energy?
I was already working in the power sector, and I had a background in experimental fluid mechanics, when I discovered marine energy. Utilising the incredible power that is clearly present in crashing waves and rushing rivers and tides resonated with me immediately. Further, the predictability of the tides struck me as an incredible asset of tidal energy in particular.
🔹 You were instrumental in the success of Verdant Power’s Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project – the first commercially licensed tidal power project in the USA. What stands out most when you reflect on that experience?
Overall, the experiences we shared, and accomplishments we made, as a team at the RITE Project over the 15+ years I was there are the things that stand out to me.
Some are technical, from the total number of MWh delivered to the NYC grid to the issuance of the first ever IECRE Test Report for Marine Energy; others are logistical, from temporarily closing the East Channel of the East River for deployment, maintenance and retrieval operations to barge journeys across the New York City harbour; while others are experiential, from forging strong relationships with the local community and the range of stakeholders involved to the quietness of slack tide at night.
🔹 You’re an active member of SUT’s Marine Renewable Energy Committee (MREC). What role has that community played in your professional journey—and why do you think groups like MREC are important for the sector?
MREC has played a very important role in my journey. It has enabled me to stay closely connected to the Marine Energy industry in the UK, enhanced my technical knowledge in a broad range of aspects across the sector, and it has helped my professional (and friendship) network grow.
Groups like MREC are critical for the sector as they facilitate informaEnergy andge across many technical, economic, regulatory and political topics, among others, which can highlight best practices from within (and outside) of Marine Energy, and can help to identify critical gaps in the industry.
🔹 What does receiving the Lennard-Senior Memorial Award mean to you?
It is a tremendous honour for me to receive the Lennard-Senior Memorial Award. True luminaries in the Marine Energy industry have won this award and similarly, true luminaries were nominated alongside me.
To be recognized by my peers for my contributions to Marine Energy is humbling, however, the amazing people I have worked with over the nearly 20 years in Marine Energy have enabled and supported my career.
I am grateful to all the colleagues I have worked with, and friends I have made, across the world.
🔹 What advice would you give to the next generation of marine energy professionals?
Work hard, have fun, and never give up! As in any job but particularly working in the smaller companies generally found within Marine Energy, it is critical for the next generation of professionals to be accountable, independent thinkers and dedicated to delivering high quality work in a timely manner.
For the industry to succeed, we need to see more and more successful deployments of devices in the water, operating for years – this simultaneously requires a long-term, broad vision and a sharp focused attention to detail in the daily execution.
As one piece of proper advice, based on my experience: a postgraduate degree can be an incredibly beneficial experience to prepare professionals for work in this sector.
Congratulations Jonathon and thank you for sharing!
Special Interest Groups, such as the Marine Renewable Energies Committee, are a key benefit of membership with the Society for Underwater Technology. These groups bring together professionals from across disciplines to exchange knowledge, shape best practices, and collaborate on sector-relevant issues. Learn more about the full range of our Special Interest Groups and membership opportunities at: https://sut.org/specialist-interest-groups