Mark Wilson (entrepreneur)
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Mark Wilson | |
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| Born | April 5, 1974 Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | CEO, Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of ILI Group, Clean Energy Development company |
| Spouse(s) | Sara Wilson (m. 2006) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Alex Wilson, Pauleen Wilson |
Mark Wilson is a British entrepreneur and business executive, best known as the CEO and founder of Intelligent Land Investments Group plc (ILI Group), a clean energy development company specialising in energy storage projects, including Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) and large-scale battery storage.
Early Life and Education
Mark Wilson was born in April 1974 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to Alex and Pauleen Wilson. He was the middle child of three siblings, with an older brother and younger sister. His father, Alex, was a dairy farmer in the rural outskirts of Omagh, giving Wilson his first exposure to running a business. From an early age, he demonstrated an entrepreneurial mindset, engaging in small business ventures such as selling peat to local shops and trading fountain pens with classmates.
Wilson moved to Scotland at the age of 11 with his family when his father bought a farm in Bonkle, North Lanarkshire.
Career
Intelligent Land Investments (ILI)
In 2004, Wilson founded Intelligent Land Investments (ILI), initially focusing on securing land for first-time homebuyers. This was funded through family, friends, and private investors. Following the 2008 financial crisis, he pivoted the business towards renewable energy, specialising in onshore wind projects. ILI secured 96 planning consents from 160 proposed wind projects, establishing itself as a leader in the UK’s renewable energy sector.[1]
Energy Storage and ILI Group
Recognising the growing need for energy storage, Wilson transitioned ILI Group’s focus to large-scale storage projects in 2015. Under his leadership, ILI Group developed a pipeline of over 4.7GW of projects, including:
- Loch na Cathrach PSH Project (Formerly known as Red John) (450 MW) – Sold to Statkraft in 2023, making it one of Europe’s largest energy storage transactions.[2]
- Balliemeanoch PSH Project (1.5 GW) – One of the largest LDES projects in Europe, currently in the planning process.[3]
- Battery Storage Projects – Sold through multiple transactions to leading energy firms, including EDPR, TagEnergy, Eelpower, Engie, and Foresight Group.[4]
Thought Leadership and Public Engagement
Wilson has actively engaged with the academic and business communities. In 2024, he was invited to speak at the University of Glasgow as part of the *Meet the Entrepreneur* series, where he shared his journey from an aspiring entrepreneur to leading ILI Group in the renewable energy sector.[5]
Policy Advocacy
ILI Group has been a prominent advocate for policy support for long-duration energy storage (LDES). In 2018, the company contributed to a discussion paper by Strathclyde University, launched at an all-party meeting in the House of Lords, advocating for policy mechanisms to support large-scale storage solutions.[6]
ILI Group is also a key member of the UK Pumped Storage Hydro Working Group, convened by Scottish Renewables. This coalition, which includes major industry players such as SSE Renewables, Drax Power, and Foresight, has lobbied for a cap-and-floor mechanism for LDES, a policy that was announced by the UK Government in early 2025.[7]
Awards and Recognition
Wilson’s work has earned ILI Group multiple industry awards, including:
- **Tamarindo Energy Storage Investment Awards - M&A Deal of the Year (2024)** – For the sale of Loch na Cathrach to Statkraft.[8]
- **Scotsman Dealmaker Awards - Deal of the Year £50m+ (2024)** – For the sale of Loch na Cathrach to Statkraft.[9]
Legacy and Impact
Mark Wilson is regarded as a key figure in the UK's transition to renewable energy, driving significant investments in energy storage infrastructure. His leadership in developing large-scale energy storage projects, shaping government policy, and mentoring future business leaders has established ILI Group as a leader in the renewable energy sector.
References
- ↑ "Could pumped hydro be Scotland's secret weapon in the renewables race?". Insider. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "Entrepreneur sells £1bn Scottish hydro plan to energy giant". Herald Scotland. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "ILI Files 1.5GW Balliemeanoch Planning Application". ReNews. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "ILI sells 50MW Scottish storage project to EDPR". ReNews. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "Mark Wilson speaks at University of Glasgow". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "UK releases discussion paper promoting pumped storage hydropower". HydroWorld. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "Must push pumped storage hydro for net-zero targets". Herald Scotland. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "ILI Group sells first energy storage project". Insider. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
- ↑ "Scotsman Dealmaker Awards - Deal of the Year £50m+". Scotsman. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
External links
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