UK-based SSE Renewables named Siemens Gamesa veteran Ángel Hernández del Teso as leader of its push into Southern Europe's green power sector and confirmed the Spanish city of Bilbao as its new regional headquarters.
Hernández del Teso becomes director of development and construction for Southern Europe, SSE Renewables announced as it underlined its regional ambitions weeks after completing the €580m ($575m) acquisition of a 5.2GW renewable project pipeline from Siemens Gamesa that spans Spain, France, Italy and Greece.
Hernández del Teso was previously Siemens Gamesa’s wind farms solutions director for South Europe, Africa and Latin America. SSE Renewables said he will be responsible for “securing a growing foothold in continental Europe” for the group, which is already a major player in its home UK and Ireland markets in both onshore and offshore wind.
The new SSE Renewables southern European team will include about 50 former Siemens Gamesa staff and be based in Bilbao.
SSE Renewables wants to bring about 500MW of its new portfolio into service by March 2026. The total includes “around 3.8GW in onshore wind development projects plus scope for up to 1.4GW of additional co-located solar development opportunities”, said the company.
Finlay McCutcheon, director of onshore renewables, Europe for SSE Renewables, said: “SSE intends to spearhead the transition to a net zero emissions future; this development plan in continental Europe will help us achieve our ambitious goals at an even faster pace."
