Building a profile for OpenHydro
The Brief:
OpenHydro is an Irish tidal energy technology company whose business is the design and manufacture of tidal turbines and turbine deployment equipment for generating renewable energy from tidal streams.
WHPR was appointed by OpenHydro in 2006 to manage strategic communications for the company.
Solution:
The past 12 months alone have seen OpenHydro achieve strong commercial success, with a number of high profile corporate announcements providing WHPR with the opportunity to raise the company’s profile both nationally and internationally, in line with the PR objectives. Such announcements have focused on significant milestone events for the company. These have included major contract announcements, industry awards, funding and grant awards.
One of the key milestones achieved by the company in 2009 included the delivery and deployment of the first commercial scale in-stream turbine in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, on behalf of its customer, Nova Scotia Power. WHPR developed a specific PR plan for this development and worked closely with the communications team at Nova Scotia Power to carefully manage and maximise the publicity opportunities around this significant development in both national and international markets.
WHPR identified and reached out to the key international trade media and has worked to develop open and productive channels of communication with them. WHPR has secured a number of high profile trade interviews between publications and James Ives, chief executive, OpenHydro.
Results:
The results for OpenHydro following implementation of the PR programme have been very positive. OpenHydro has achieved impressive commercial success and its media footprint has grown in tandem and very much reflects its evolution as a business.
WHPR has helped position OpenHydro as an international leader and a pioneer in its field. The company’s profile and that of its Chief Executive, James Ives, has been raised considerably and both receive regular coverage in Irish and international business/trade media.
OpenHydro has been profiled within the key media in Ireland, including RTE, The Sunday Business Post, the national broadsheets, online business and technology newswires, Business & Finance, Engineers Ireland. The company has also been featured in documentaries and video news reports conducted by BBC Scotland, BBC Newsnight, CNBC and Discovery Channel. Regular communication is also maintained with the key international trade publications and OpenHydro’s profile among this audience has been enhanced as a result.
