Meet Gordon MacDougall – CCO – Development and Commercial, Americas

RES has welcomed back a familiar face — Gordon MacDougall has rejoined the business as Chief Commercial Officer – Development and Commercial. A self-professed “boomerang colleague”, Gordon previously worked with RES in the UK before embarking on a successful career across Europe and the US with other leading renewable energy companies.

Now back with the business to lead our development efforts in North America, Gordon reflects on what made him return, the sector’s biggest challenges, and the adventure of relocating his family to Denver.

What brought you back to RES?

To be honest I don’t feel like I left RES because I kept in touch with so many colleagues over the years and watched the progress the company made during that time. Coming back made a lot of sense and I’m excited to play my part in pushing us forward.

And how have you adjusted to the US?

My eldest daughter was born in the US so we’re familiar with the country, but moving back to California a couple of years ago for a new role was a big family decision. We sat down, talked it through, and everyone — including my three kids — embraced it. My son said, “I can’t spend the rest of my life wondering what would’ve happened if I said no.” That mindset has really stuck with me.

We’re now in the process of moving to Denver. It’s a vibrant, welcoming city that’s full of outdoor opportunities which I love. I’ve always had an explorer’s mindset, and Colorado’s the perfect place for that. I feel incredibly lucky.

Can you describe your role as Chief Commercial Officer in simple terms?

It’s outward-facing and future-focused — making sure we’re well-positioned in the market, engaging externally, and aligning our commercial and development strategy across the US and Canada. I’m also keen to leverage all our technical, engineering and operational heritage alongside our digital solutions which really sets us apart. I’m also focussed on keeping strong links with our other development teams globally, helping us collaborate and share opportunities.

What’s your focus now that you’re back?

Development has always been central to RES – it’s in our DNA and always will be thanks to our strengths: our engineering, experience, and track record. We’ve always stood out as the quintessential independent developer and that’s the reputation I want us to maintain and build on.

Where are the opportunities in North America?

I see huge potential across the US and Canada. Demand is growing at an incredible rate, and every technology has a role to play to get the right mix. That doesn’t mean we’ll be spreading ourselves thin. One of the things we’re doing now is refocusing — choosing key markets where we can go deeper, make a stronger impact, and build long-term leadership. Not every state or province, but where we can be excellent.

What’s the biggest challenge in development today?

I was asked this same question over 20 years ago, and interestingly, the answer hasn’t changed that much. The three biggest challenges in renewables back then were the grid, route to market, and planning. They still are today.

We’ve made real progress, but those core issues remain the toughest to crack. Political shifts and regulatory hurdles come and go—and we’ve learned to navigate them in different regions. But at its heart, the sector keeps moving because the fundamentals are solid: renewables are now the cheapest form of energy and the momentum is there.

Good policy accelerates progress, bad policy slows it down—but none of it will stop the transition.

Has the pace of innovation surprised you?

Yes, the scale and speed of change have been remarkable. Twenty years ago, we were dealing with 400kW turbines—now it’s 15MW. The technology leap has been huge. Solar and wind have become dramatically more cost-effective – with some technologies now operating at 20–30 per cent of the cost they were 20 years ago.

What advice would you give someone starting in renewables today?

The industry’s evolved a lot, but the fundamentals haven’t really changed. It still moves fast, it still rewards innovation, and it still relies on people who are willing to learn.

I’d say stay curious, keep learning. Talk to people, listen, share ideas. And decide whether you want to go deep in one area or be a generalist — both paths are valid, but it helps to know which one suits you.

Most of all, this is an industry that values integrity. If you want a long career in renewables, do things the right way, and work with people who do the same. I know from experience that RES is full of those types of people.