A new academic research centre that aims to tackle offshore wind challenges has been backed with £17.8m of Government and private sector investment.
Around 65 PhD students will be involved in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience over the next five years. The centre aims to develop future leaders in the sector and is being led by the University of Hull with key involvement by Durham, Loughborough and Sheffield universities.
Along with £5.8m of Government funding, the centre has attracted the backing of more than 40 industry partners who have put forward a combined £12m. Firms involved have pledged match funding for up to 30 doctoral studentships that will be co-funded by industry sponsors
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As well as nurturing the sector’s future leaders, the centre will look at offshore wind’s environmental impact, the economics and development of new supply chains, the growing use of automation and how to integrate the offshore grid into the network. It is one of 65 centres for doctoral training (CDTs) recently announced as by Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan as part of a £1bn-plus investment into engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills.
University of Hull vice chancellor Prof Dave Petley said: “I’m absolutely delighted that our new Centre for Doctoral Training has been funded. Offshore wind is a key part of the UK, and indeed the global, energy mix as we move to Net Zero. The Centre will play a key role in both developing the skills needed to drive this exciting technology and in providing underpinning research across a wide variety of activities in this field. It will continue to provide a brilliant network of key industrial partners and universities, allowing the UK to enhance its position as a world leader in offshore wind energy.”
Prof Robert Dorrell, CDT director, said: “We are delighted in the award of this EPSRC CDT focused on offshore wind energy, which is now being developed at unprecedented scale in UK and global waters. Our CDT connects students from a diverse range of backgrounds, from engineering, environmental science and socio-economics, to deliver resilience in research addressing critical sector challenges. With the programme supported by continuous engagement with our key industry, policy and civic partners we will help develop the future leaders offshore wind urgently requires for the UK to meet net-zero 2050 targets.”
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber
