NEIL GRIMSTONE

Neil Grimstone set up Brandis Energy in April 2002, following over 20 years in the energy industry, including both the power generation and oil & gas sectors. Since 2002 he has been responsible for several consulting and transaction services mandates undertaken by Brandis in the renewable energy field, covering the analysis, development and acquisition of wind farms, solar projects, hydroelectric, biomass and waste fuelled facilities across Europe on behalf of international clients. Brandi s has also carried out strategic market reviews of renewable energy potential in different European countries for both industrial and financial investors, with particular emphasis on the wind, biomass and waste sectors. The company also carried out a major EU sponsored study into the auto-shredder residue disposal market in Europe.

Neil was previously Managing Director of Covanta Energy Europe, responsible for the development and acquisition of independent power and Waste to Energy projects (WTE) throughout Europe, including two WTE projects in Italy in partnership with Actelios, a division of the Falck Group, an industrial cogeneration plant in Southern Spain, and hydro electric power development activities in Turkey, as well as reaching agreement on terms for the acquisition of a large biomass power plant in Ireland.

He joined Covanta in June 1999 from Edison Mission Energy, where he was latterly Regional Vice President, Business Strategy for EME’s Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and Africa Division. He was responsible for the strategy and implementation of a series of new business development initiatives throughout the region, including the initial evaluation of the potential for the wind energy sector in Europe, which eventually led to the acquisition of a major wind portfolio in Italy.

Prior to this he spent 3 years in Rome as EME’s Managing Director, Mediterranean Region, during which time the 512MW Isab Energy IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) Project in Sicily was successfully developed and financed, and a portfolio of hydro-electric assets in Spain was acquired and re-financed. He served earlier as Finance Director, Europe, having been responsible for the financing of the 214MW Derwent gas fired cogeneration Project in England.

Before joining EME in 1992, he held a series of management positions in the oil and gas industry with BP (financial analysis of upstream oil and gas developments), IC Gas (Director of Planning and Business Development for Group owning UK’s leading LPG supplier, as well as upstream oil and gas assets) and Conoco (Manager, Market Planning and Retail Projects).

He is a UK national with 1st Class Honours degree in Economics from Reading University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the Law Faculty of Edinburgh University. He speaks Italian, Spanish and French.