Supergen ORE Hub Seventh Annual Assembly: Accelerating Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) to 2040 and beyond
The Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub is pleased to announce our seventh Annual Assembly is taking place on Wednesday 24 April 2024 at the University of Plymouth, with an evening networking reception on Tuesday 23 April 2024 (venue to be announced).
Key details
- Evening Networking Reception: Tuesday 23 April 2024 - National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, PL4 0LF
- Annual Assembly: Wednesday 24 April 2024
- Early Career Researchers Forum: Tuesday 23 April 2024 (Open to ECRs only - further information can be found here)
- Location: University of Plymouth (main campus), Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA
About the Assembly
We’re beginning a pivotal decade to accelerate the deployment of ORE within the UK. The journey towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 requires an acceleration in ORE research and innovation now to support the deployment of ORE through the 2030’s and 2040’s towards the 2050 target. With the UK's electricity demand expected to double by 2050, offshore renewable energy is poised to play a crucial role – as an ORE community we need to rise to this challenge, to deliver the energy transition for society.
The 2024 Supergen ORE Hub Annual Assembly – ‘Accelerating Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) to 2040 and beyond’ – aims to inspire and support the ORE community to address this challenge. Our focus on 2040 uses this milestone as a practical focus on the route to 2050: 2040 is soon enough to be on stakeholder horizons, but far enough to be influenced by transformative research and innovation. We will explore the following themes:
- Accelerating to 2040: Policy, Planning and Consenting: Securing the necessary regulatory approvals, financing and policy frameworks represents a critical step in unlocking the deployment of ORE infrastructure. Streamlining consenting processes, gaining investment confidence, and implementing supportive policies are essential to overcome barriers and accelerate the pace of development. A fourfold speed-up in consenting ORE projects is intended in the British Energy Security Strategy. This session will explore:
- whether we are on track for the 2040 ORE milestones, including the innovation and infrastructure needs, the challenges to ORE policy and its implementation,
- how to balance the trilemma of climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation and socio-economic wellbeing.
- approaches for consenting and planning permission, the timeline of the process and how it can be accelerated.
- Accelerating to 2040: Transforming Practice: Acceleration to the 2040 milestones cannot be achieved via business as usual – the journey will be eased by positive transformations of sector practices. The shared nature of our climate challenges makes building global partnerships and cross-sector collaborations a key component to create these transformations. By exchanging knowledge, resources, and expertise we can maximise our impact and work together for a clean energy mix for the future that is also sustainable and makes use of latest advances in research and innovation. This session will explore:
- how research and innovation is transforming practice in ORE, and what innovations are making a difference to ORE technology at all stages of project planning, design and operation.
- how transfer and exchange of knowledge with other sectors and communities will help to achieve sustainable solutions that are essential for Net Zero.
- Accelerating to 2040: Supply Chain and People: The scale of the ORE growth to the 2040 milestone cannot be achieved by the current supply chain and requires growth, diversity and additional skills within the workforce. From next-generation wind, wave and tidal energy converters to new technologies for construction and operation, the supply chain must grow and transform to support the 2040 milestones, underpinned by research and innovation. Fostering inclusivity and diversity within the industry not only unlocks the required talent, but also fosters innovation and creates a workforce capable of driving a meaningful and just transition to a net zero carbon economy. This session will explore:
- the supply chain and workforce needed to fulfil the ambitions and potential benefits to the UK economy and society from ORE projects.
- the role of research and innovation in developing the supply chain and in developing the skilled people to be on track for 2040.
These topics will be explored via:
- Panel discussions featuring representatives from academia, industry, and UK government
- Presentations on core research updates from the Supergen ORE Hub
- A showcase of the research being undertaken by our investment into the Flexible Funding awards
- Research posters presented by members of our Early Career Researcher (ECR) community
Programme (subject to change)
View PDF of speaker biographies
08:30 – 09:00 Arrival and refreshments
09:00 – 09:10 Welcome to the University of Plymouth
- Professor Kevin Jones: University of Plymouth - Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research and Innovation
09:10 – 09:35 Keynote session
- Amanda Solloway MP: Rt Hon MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Affordability and Skills) and Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury)
- Andrew Garrad CBE: Garrad Hassan - Founder
09:35 – 09:40 Welcome to the Supergen ORE Hub and the Annual Assembly
- Professor Deborah Greaves OBE: University of Plymouth - Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
09:40 – 10:40 Panel session 1: Accelerating to 2040: Policy, Planning and Consenting
- Professor David White (Chair): University of Southampton - Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Professor Henry Jeffrey: Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub – University of Edinburgh
- Timothy Pick MBE: Chair, Offshore Wind Growth Partnership / former UK Offshore Wind Champion
- Will Apps: The Crown Estate - Offshore Wind Strategy Director
- Professor Brian Polagye: University of Washington - Professor of Mechanical Engineering
10:40 – 11:00 Refreshment break with viewing of posters from our Early Career Researcher Community
11:00 – 11:30 Research session 1: Core research updates from the Supergen ORE Hub
- Professor Philipp Thies (Chair): University of Exeter - Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Dr Hannah Mullings: University of Manchester - Research Fellow
- Dr Hugo Putuhena: University of Southampton - Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Offshore Renewable Energy
- Dr Xiaosheng (Shaun) Chen: University of Oxford - Research Associate
- Kris Grattan: University of Edinburgh - Research Associate in Offshore Renewables
- Arriana Zampollo: University of Aberdeen - Research Assistant
11:30 – 12:30 Flexible Funding Award Research Showcase
- Professor Xiaowei Zhao (Chair): University of Warwick - Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Callum Rothon: University of Hull - PhD student with the Aura CDT
- Dr Marcin Kapitaniak: University of Aberdeen - Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
- Professor Ali Mehmanparast: University of Strathclyde - Professor of Structural Integrity
- Dr Ajit Pillai: University of Exeter - Senior Lecturer in Autonomous Systems and Robotics
- Dr Brian Seller: University of Edinburgh - Chancellor's Fellow
12:30 – 12:35 Tribute to Professor Stephen Salter
- Professor Alistair Borthwick: University of Plymouth - Professor of Applied Hydrodynamics
12:35 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:30 Panel session 2: Accelerating to 2040: Transforming Practice
- Professor Beth Scott (Chair): University of Aberdeen - Supergen ORE Hub Co-Director
- Professor Hongda Shi: Ocean University of China - Professor of Ocean Engineering
- Dr Okechukwu Okorie: University of Exeter - RAEng Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Manufacturing
- Professor Campbell Booth: University of Strathclyde - Professor and Vice Dean – Research
- Peter Giddings: National Composites Centre - Chief Engineer
14:30 – 15:00 Research session 2: Core research updates from the Supergen ORE Hub
- Professor Tim Stallard (Chair): University of Manchester Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Dr Abel Arredondo-Galeana: University of Strathclyde - Research Associate
- Rui Li: University of Warwick - Ph.D. candidate
- Dr Ed Mackay: University of Exeter - Research Fellow
- Dr Kaushal Bhavsar: University of Hull - Postdoctoral Researcher in Offshore Renewable Energy
- Dr Scott Brown: University of Plymouth - Supergen ORE Hub Research Fellow
15:00 – 15:30 Refreshment break with viewing of posters from our Early Career Researcher Community
15:30 – 16:30 Panel session 3: Accelerating to 2040: Supply Chain and People
- Professor James Gilbert (Chair): University of Hull - Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Jane Cooper: RUK - Executive Director of Offshore Wind
- Amy Spalding: Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - Portfolio Manager (Energy)
- Roger Townsend: Innovate UK - Innovation Lead - Energy
- Dr Emma Edwards: University of Oxford - Career Development Fellow at St Peter's College
- Dr Mark McBride-Wright CEng MIChemE: Equal Engineers - Founder & Managing Director
16:30 – 17:00 Close of Assembly and announcement of Early Career Researcher poster prizes
17:00 – 18:00 Early Career Researcher poster viewing, networking and refreshments
17:00 - 18:00 Optional tours
Optional tours will also be taking place from 17:00 of the following facilities at the University of Plymouth: The Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory; the new Babbage Building (including the Hexapod, wind tunnel and virtual engineering facilities) and Maritime Simulation Laboratory. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to join a tour, a sign-up sheet will be available on the registration/welcome desk at the Assembly until the end of the lunch break.
View PDF of speaker biographies
Registration is now closed.
The assembly will be in person only, although access to any recorded materials will be made available after the event via the Supergen ORE Hub website.
Supergen ORE Hub Seventh Early Career Researchers Forum
As part of the Annual Assembly, the Supergen ORE Hub will be hosting an Early Career Researchers (ECR) Forum on Tuesday 23 April 2024 at the University of Plymouth.
Key details
- Early Career Researchers Forum: Tuesday 23 April 2024
- Evening networking reception for Annual Assembly delegates: Tuesday 23 April 2024
- Annual Assembly: Wednesday 24 April 2024
- Location: University of Plymouth (main campus), Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA
- Find out more here
About the ECR Forum
The Supergen ORE Hub ECR Community aims to connect ECRs with more senior researchers, in the UK and internationally, to create a diverse and supportive community that nurtures the next generation of ORE research leaders. The Forum is a way for ECRs to come together and share their research and network with colleagues.
Each ECR attending the Forum is invited to submit a poster presentation as an opportunity to promote their research and engage with other conference attendees. Further details about poster submissions will be shared in early 2024.
