About

Heidra is a Dartmoor based company helping to develop the vast renewable energy potential of rural sites. Many financially viable sites are not viable for large-developers and remain unutilised. An alternative to large developer-style projects is community or land-owner driven organic growth across the country. Both systems have their role to play in fighting climate change and coping with peak-oil. Heidra aims to support the latter by applying leading edge large-scale methodolgies to the smaller scale, with a linear scaling of the cost. By minimising overheads and taking a lean approach during the whole development cycle, Heidra is proving that many small-scale rural renewable energy sites can be financially viable, efficient and sensitive to the surrounding environment. The business model that Heidra employs assumes that the services provided will be used by a large number of customers so that the economies of scale can be captured. Heidra attempts to provide non site specific information on our web site.

Heidra also performs consultancy work in the renewable energy field. Work has included specification and installation of power curve assessment equipment for Iskra wind turbines and volute design plus manufacturing specification for Hydrogeneration, now part of Segen.

Steve Ritchie

After a first class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Leeds, Steve was employed by Imperial College, London and received a PhD for work on industrially funded projects to understand failure mechanisms of pressurised pipelines used by the water and gas industries. Later, Steve was employed as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Design at the University of Exeter where he further developed his research interests in manufacture, polymer materials and complex flows. Steve left lecturing to develop his concepts for Heidra. He is a chartered Mechanical Engineer with a wide ranging experience in mechanical and electronic industrial designs.

Jon Cuming

Jon brings a vast experience of reliable engineering design and fabrication to Heidra. Jon initially worked as an agricultural Engineer and then as an aircraft Engineer for Flybe. Jon ensures Heidra's products and services meet the kind of Quality and Health & Saftey standards demanded by the aircraft industry. He has extensive experience of working in the rural environment and leads Heidra's installation teams.

Seb Denno

Graduating from The University of Exeter with a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering & Management, Seb gained a strong technical and business grounding on the Airbus UK Graduate training programme. On completion of the graduate scheme, he took on a project leader role for the Manufacturing Engineering function. In addition to delivering several large capital investment projects, he also developed and implemented a suite of project management procedures to ensure safe working practice across Airbus UK teams. Seb’s strong personal interest in renewable technologies lead him to join Heidra where he leads operational management and heads up business development.

Francis MacNaughton

Francis graduated in Chemistry before joining the Royal Navy. In the course of a full career afloat and ashore, he was extensively involved in supporting a wide range of complex Naval technical projects in specialist areas. In preparing to resettle from Naval service he undertook courses in renewable energy and has also been taking an active role in Sustainable South Brent, his local action group. This includes detailed work towards preparing an application for a medium sized community owned wind turbine.

Ed Hole

Ed has worked in the construction industry for the last 15 years and brings a valuable set of skills to Heidra's installations.