Dr. Richard Taylor has made a profound impact on the international renewable energy sector, and especially hydropower. Working with public agencies, financiers and the private sector, he has built consensus on international good practice and criteria for decision-making. He has held senior positions in water and energy since 1994, with assignments in more than 50 countries. In addition to water and renewable energy development, his interests include climate change and sustainability. He is passionate about responsible development and about gaining finance to achieve this.

Richard currently provides strategic advice to developers and lenders on sustainable development initiatives, particularly regarding verification and access to finance for key projects. He does this through his consultancy, RMT Renewables Consulting Ltd.

From 2001 to 2019, Richard established the International Hydropower Association (IHA) as the preeminent international agency representing the sector, with member organisations active in more than 120 countries. He served as Executive Director and CEO of its group of not-for-profit companies.

From 1994 to 2001, Richard co-established the AMI company, which became a leading international industry-information service company. He relinquished his ownership in AMI when he took on his leadership role at IHA.

From 1986 to 1994, in parallel with post-graduate studies, Richard served as a hydropower specialist for the business-intelligence company BPI, driving several successful initiatives in hydropower research and dam engineering.

Richard has contributed to the work of several international organisations: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Network on Renewable Energy in the 21st Century (REN21), World Energy Council (WEC), World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), International Solar Energy Society (ISES), International Geothermal Association (IGA), World Water Council (WWC), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Global Energy Interconnections initiative (GEI), Climate Investment Funds (CIF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), and the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council (HSAC).

Most recently, he chaired the industry chamber of HSAC, and served as a Steering Committee member of IRENA’s coalition for action. He currently works as an Expert for the Global Energy Interconnection initiative and the Technical Working Group of CBI. He also works as a Senior Strategic Advisor to the World Bank Group, and a Senior Consultant to the USD 21 million XFLEX HYDRO demonstration project of the European Commission (Horizon 2020).

Richard has been engaged in United Nations initiatives on water (WWDR and UNEP), energy (UNIDO and UNDESA) and climate change (UNESCO and IPCC). He most recently served on the steering committee of the Sustainable Water & Energy Initiative (UNDESA), appraising the UN system of progress in this area at its headquarters in New York and at the UNFCCC COP meetings.

Academic achievements and publications

After graduating with honours in 1985 from the University of London in Earth Science/Water Resources, Richard undertook postgraduate training in hydropower engineering, renewable energy systems, climate-change and sustainable development.

He has written and edited numerous technical papers and periodicals on hydropower, climate change, water and energy systems, Including acting as Lead Author for initiatives of IPCC, UNIDO and UNESCO. He is currently contributing to an Encyclopaedia of Renewable Energy.