People Spotlight:
Padmini Maheshwari

In our latest People Spotlight, we chatted with Padmini Maheshwari, Renewables Development Project Manager, to find out why she decided to work in the world of renewables and what she gets up to in her spare time.

Tell us a little bit about your career journey so far

I started my career in the Oil & Gas industry as a Seismic Geophysicist and spent nearly a decade in various related roles. In 2015, when I was contemplating a career change, I travelled to Africa. There, I was deeply moved by how solar energy was positively contributing to lives in underprivileged communities.

Access to clean electricity meant that children could study more easily in the evening, villages could enjoy television without fear of power cuts, and sick people did not have far to travel to access lifesaving electrical equipment.

Inspired, I returned to the UK with a renewed purpose: to contribute to the clean energy transition and make a meaningful difference.

My journey in renewables began with a Wind Operator where I worked in Operations Control and later as a Project Planner. A year ago, I joined Scottish Water Horizons where I am proud to be part of a team driving innovation and sustainable energy solutions.

What kind of work do you do in Horizons?

As a Renewables Development Project Manager, I scope out Scottish Water and PFI sites that have potential for a solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind schemes. Once a site passes initial feasibility checks, I liaise with our framework contractor to secure a grid connection and organise various surveys such as ground investigation reports and environmental assessments.

Throughout the development phase, I engage with various teams to design a solution that best suits the site’s needs, ensuring minimal impact on the site’s operations. The ultimate goal is to help Scottish Water reduce its electricity bills and carbon footprint.

A typical day might involve visiting the site, talking to the contractors and site operations, number crunching on the financial model, and technical problem solving to ensure that we are well within the budget and timeline for the project. This involves keeping stakeholders aligned with project priorities, and foreseeing and eliminating any risks that we may encounter.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The huge responsibility that comes with developing a project gives me immense job satisfaction. While occasional setbacks are part of the journey, the achievement of developing a green project is incredibly rewarding.

What I love most is the immense learning curve that you get with each project – one day I’m liaising with Public Health, and the next, I’m negotiating Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) rates. With such a varied portfolio of Scottish Water sites, my role demands that I constantly adapt to being a jack of all trades – from archaeology and water hygiene to legal and planning matters. It’s this variety that makes the work so exciting and fulfilling!

What has been the biggest highlight of your experience with us so far?

Developing the Moffat solar PV project has been the highlight of my journey so far. The exposure and support that I received, especially through working closely with the Public Health team, Hydrogeologists and Operations was invaluable.

Moffat is a Raw Water Intake site with boreholes, making it highly sensitive. Using machinery on site for example posed risks such as water contamination due to ground disturbance and hydrocarbons leaking from the machinery and percolating into the soil. Ultimately this would affect water quality for many people who depend on this water source.

Successfully navigating these challenges taught me the importance of collaboration. I was fortunate to work with so many skilled people across Horizons, Scottish Water, and our contractor R&A, and together, we delivered the project safely and on time.

As my first project in Horizons, Moffat Solar PV was a steep but rewarding learning curve.

What are your plans for the future?

This year, I’m eager to expand my experience by taking on wind projects to further diversify the Scottish Water Horizons portfolio. Lots of exciting PV projects also await and I’m looking forward to seeing them through to implementation. Each project is a step toward contributing to our goal of achieving Net Zero, and I’m excited to play my part.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spare time is a luxury, so I like to make the most of it by trying something new. Recently I took a hobby class and learned how to make a charcuterie board.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Bhutan! It’s a mystical country with stunning scenery and interestingly the only carbon-negative country in the world.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and worked offshore in Angola. Travelling and working in that part of the world has been truly an amazing and unforgettable experience.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” It’s simple but powerful – and it’s worked for me countless times.