David Thomas and Gabriel Gallagher met in 1997 whilst in the Netherlands for their EuroFlam placements at the IFRF. During the combustion investigations and time spent exploring the local bars David and Gabriel shared their interests for future energy generation. Going their separate ways:

David (Photo, right) started an industrial PhD at British Steel and Gabriel joined the Mechanical Engineering and Energy Division at Cardiff University.

In 1998 David formed Sustainable Energy Limited (http://www.sustainable-energy.co.uk/) with a director of a local solar company. The first year of business was successful, carrying out energy audits and technical consultancy for local businesses.

Gabriel (Photo, left) worked part time on a few projects with Sustainable Energy, before joining as a Director following the completion of his PhD.

Today Sustainable Energy and is an independent consultancy offering renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services. Based in South Wales with offices in both Cardiff and Swansea, Sustainable Energy's team consists of twelve highly qualified energy, technical, environmental and finance professionals who possess a complimentary range of skills.

Sustainable Energy provides technical and economic feasibility studies for renewable energy implementation, covering solar thermal, integrated and stand alone solar PV, small-scale biomass combustion and conversion, wind, landfill gas and hydro. Sustainable Energy also develops renewable energy products, including small-scale biomass systems, solar PV, solar thermal and small-scale wind applications.

Sustainable Energy has worked on a large range of energy related projects including the lead of a consortium to carry out the renewable energy resource assessment for the National Assembly for Wales. Other projects include: The feasibility of establishing a Green Electricity tariff in the SWALEC region. The report produced by Sustainable Energy was favourably received and a Green Electricity tariff has very recently been announced by SWALEC, incorporating most of Sustainable Energy's recommendations.

Sustainable Energy is a partner in the European funded body OPET (Organisation for the Promotion of Energy Technology) responsible for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in Wales and which is networked across Europe.

Sustainable Energy is currently involved in a number of Biomass product development programmes that include: The development of biomass gasification combined heat and power system funded by the DTI. A Smart award from the National Assembly for Wales funds the development of a small-scale pyrolysis system for converting wood waste in to bio oil.

Sustainable Energy is working with Cardiff University consulting on a European Commission funded project to minimise fouling within an Ultra High Temperature Heat Exchanger designed for firing biomass.

Further information on Sustainable Energy Ltd. is available from their website at: http://www.sustainable-energy.co.uk/