Space Solar appoints former BP LNG head to board

Space Solar, based in Harwell, Oxfordshire, which develops space-based solar power (SBSP) to provide clean, scalable and affordable energy, has appointed Jonty Shepard, former BP Global Head of LNG, as a non-executive director, bringing over 30 years of energy sector expertise to the company.

Jonty spent 17 years leading BP’s global LNG trading and origination business, overseeing a fleet of 35 LNG carriers, regas capacity across Europe, and equity LNG from Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt and Australia’s North West Shelf. 

He also served as director of the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and was awarded the World LNG Executive Award in 2024.

Joining Space Solar’s board at a pivotal moment in the global energy transition, Jonty will provide strategic guidance on energy market positioning and commercial development. 

His experience will support Space Solar’s mission to establish space-based solar power as a flexible, reliable and cost-effective solution for growing global energy demand.

Jonty will also join Caturus, Kimmeridge’s LNG and gas unit, as a non-executive director in early 2026.

He said: “I believe that Space Solar could address many of the challenges associated with the energy transition to a low carbon future, specifically providing flexible, affordable and clean energy whilst resolving the challenges of intermittency and grid congestion that existing renewables present. 

“We are at an exciting point in the development of humankind with new technologies developing rapidly, and this is going to rapidly increase energy demand which needs to be supplied in a sustainable way. 

“Space Solar can do this."

Sam Adlen, co-chief executive at Space Solar, added: “We are absolutely delighted to have Jonty join the Space Solar board.  

“With his deep expertise building major new businesses and revenue streams within the energy sector, he will help us accelerate our development as a transformational energy business. 

“The world’s energy demand is expected to quadruple over the next 25 years, and it is fantastic that energy sector leaders like Jonty recognise the huge potential of space-based solar power to deliver energy security and abundance, given its unique attributes of 24/7 reliability, good energy density and incredible scalability.  

“We warmly welcome Jonty to the board and we are excited to be working together to deliver this transformational new energy source for the world.” 

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