From e-fuels in Shetland to carbon hubs in Bristol, Consultant Ella Booth has been right at the heart of Apollo’s most ambitious projects. In this edition of Powered by People, Ella shares how early trust, complex challenges, and a passion for problem-solving have shaped her journey so far.
Ella, can you tell us a little about your role at Apollo and what drew you to engineering in the first place?
I work as a consultant as part of Apollo’s Advisory team, which carries out front-end feasibility studies and concept designs for all things decarbonisation. This includes a huge range of different tasks and every day is completely different. One day I’ll be doing pipe sizing and energy calculations, the next will be government regulations and funding pathways.
I was drawn to engineering because I’ve always been passionate about reducing emissions and helping protect the environment. Chemical engineering gave me the tools to contribute to this wide range of different projects and think analytically about problems and how to solve them. Problem solving is a key part of engineering and specifically the advisory team.
Can you share a few of the projects you've been involved in, and what your role was in each?
Two of the most stand-out projects to me would be the SVT Energy hub feasibility study and the 7CO2 project.
The SVT energy hub project was the first project I was put on as a new graduate, and it involved an in-depth feasibility study of repurposing Sullom Voe Terminal for e-fuel production. It was great to have the opportunity to work with EnQuest and their partners and carry out these initial stages of engineering to understand the possibly of a large-scale clean fuels project.
The 7CO2 project involved capturing post-combustion CO2 emissions from various industrial sources and transporting it to a central hub for onward shipment or potential conversion into eFuels. This involved creating a logistical system, from the on-site Carbon capture, rail transportation of CO2 and the onward shipping to underground storage. It required a lot of GIS mapping to locate optimal emitters and their train routes, as well as land availability for the central hub at Bristol port.
Which one stands out most to you, and why?
The 7CO2 project stands out the most, it was the most complex and logistically challenging project, that required a large amount of problem solving and system analysis.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned since starting at Apollo?
I had expected that, being early in my career, it would take years before I had real responsibilities. But what surprised me most at Apollo was how quickly I was trusted with meaningful work. From the outset, I was given the chance to contribute directly—particularly through leading on GIS mapping for high-profile projects. It was exciting to bring a specialised skill to the team and see it add real value to the work we were doing. I was also given the opportunity to present at the Port of Aberdeen Roundtable alongside one of our directors—something I never expected so early in my career.
Who has been your biggest mentor or supporter at Apollo so far, and how have they helped you grow?
The first person who comes to mind is Calum Westland. He’s led the Advisory team throughout my time at Apollo and has been my manager from the beginning.
Calum has taught me so much about the decarbonisation space and has consistently set an example of leadership and staying professional and collected under pressure.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their engineering journey?
Be friendly and get involved. Engineering is as much about collaboration as it is about technical skills, and you never know where your next opportunity might come from. Being kind, helpful, and engaged not only strengthens your network but often leads to unexpected opportunities.
Favourite place to eat in Aberdeen?
Parx café in Queens terrace
Twix, Wispa, Kinder or KitKat?
Kinder
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