I was brought up in Orkney, attending Stenness Primary School and Stromness Academy. Following an interest in technical studies and electrical technologies, I completed an undergraduate degree in 2007 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. This was complimented by a post-graduate degree in Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation, providing my first steps into renewable energy fundamentals and real-world developments.
After graduation, I spent time travelling and exploring Canada and Australia for a few years before going back into higher education, where I was fortunate enough to be accepted in the Marine Renewable Energy Masters at ICIT in Stromness. It was during this time that I really came to re-appreciate life in Orkney and the dynamic local energy system. I graduated from this Masters in 2013.
I was then fortunate to join the work force at an Orkney-based environmental consultancy called Aquatera, where I principally worked on technological projects centred on energy use and low emission transport. My growing interest in the local energy issues and potential in Orkney brought me to Community Energy Scotland where I helped to deliver the SMILE, BIG HIT and ReFLEX demonstration and innovation projects, where my work involved looking at using innovative grid-smart technologies in combination with more established ones to help balance the local grid with the aim of keeping Orkney’s renewables resource generating as much as possible. My current efforts focus on the low carbon heating efficiency fields within the Heat Pump Plus project. With research into the factors which impact the efficiency and effectiveness to heat pump operation, as well as the barriers to increased adoption of heat pump technologies.
Outside of work I enjoy producing food from my plots in the local community garden and constructing various fun things, such as rafts for the annual local race and confectionery treats!
peter.long(at)communityenergyscotland.org.uk
Phone: 07810 855727
