University of 91直播 Offshore Wind Partnership shortlisted for World Sustainability Awards

The EPSRC Prosperity Partnership: a new partnership in Offshore Wind, has been shortlisted for a prestigious award recognising its positive impact on sustainability

Banner celebrating external partnership award shortlisting
  • The EPSRC Prosperity Partnership: a new partnership in Offshore wind has been shortlisted for the World Sustainability Awards 2023
  • The 拢7.64m shortlisted project saw the University of 91直播 collaborate with the Universities of Durham and Hull, as well as staff at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and 脴rsted
  • Amongst other categories within the World Sustainability Awards is the award for external partnership, which the University of 91直播 has been shortlisted for

The are hosted by Sustainability Leaders, a global network for senior corporate executives which aims to accelerate sustainability initiatives. Each year, the globally recognised awards celebrate disruptors and change makers in the sustainability community. The prosperity partnership team from the University of 91直播 are happy to announce that the 鈥楴ew Partnership in Offshore Wind鈥 project has this year been shortlisted for the external partnership award. 

This particular category celebrates a collaboration between at least two organisations which is having a positive impact on environmental, social and governance conditions, and recognises the need for businesses to partner with external stakeholders in order to create lasting change. The 2022 winner of this award was AB InBev鈥檚 100+ accelerator, which is a global incubator programme working to fund start-ups in the field of sustainability and therefore solve supply chain challenges. This year鈥檚 winners will be announced on 19th October in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The full shortlist for all of the World Sustainability Awards can be viewed on the .

Photograph of wind turbines, courtesy of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Photograph of wind turbines, courtesy of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

Myself and Professor Zi-Qiang Zhu are delighted to report that the recently completed EPSRC Prosperity Partnership project 'A New Partnership in Offshore Wind' has been shortlisted for a World Sustainability Award. The project has been a fantastic collaboration with our partners. We are honoured to be shortlisted within the External Partnership category, which includes excellent and high-profile organisations, and we are looking forward to the announcement of the results at the ceremony in Amsterdam in October.

Keith Dean

Project Manager for 鈥淎 New Partnership in Offshore Wind鈥, University of 91直播

The partnership, titled 鈥楢 new partnership in offshore wind鈥, was a five year long, 拢7.64m project led by Professor Zi-Qiang Zhu from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of 91直播. The multidisciplinary team working on the project were made up of staff from across electrical and mechanical engineering fields at the Universities of 91直播, Durham and Hull, as well as at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, 脴rsted, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. You can watch the below video to learn more about the work the partnership carried out to bring down the cost of offshore wind, or read more on our webpage about the project.

Research to bring down the cost of offshore wind; a simple explanation

The project was able to address issues which will support UK supply chain growth, and reduced offshore wind鈥檚 levelised electricity costs - therefore reducing reliance on non-renewable sources of energy. Over the course of the project there have abeen over 150 publications produced, 20 patent applications submitted,  and over 80 engagement activities carried out to encourage good practice and increase knowledge exchange.

The research from the project, and the successful collaborations within it, have already led to substantial amounts of additional funding (in excess of 拢18M) being awarded to develop the team鈥檚 ideas and innovations even further. However, in their assessment of the project's success within their report brochure, the team notes that it is crucial for funding for offshore wind power to now continue, to enable us to further increase the percentage of our energy needs which are satisfied through carbon-free, sustainable energy. 

A photograph of Prosperity Partnership project members at the 5th, and final, annual meeting of the project held at the Science Museum, London, in March 2023
Prosperity Partnership project members at the 5th, and final, annual meeting of the project held at the Science Museum, London, in March 2023

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