ORE SuperGen Leader Deborah Greaves

0bfe6e22-13cb-4d60-a29a-8ea8685a78f6

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£739,445

June 30, 2017

Dec. 31, 2017

The vision for the ORE Hub is to pull together for mutual benefit three related areas; wave, tidal and offshore wind, which share synergies and research challenges. This will bring together shared skills and expertise across ORE and allow transfer of fundamental knowledge, shared learning on similar problems, and shared resource for interdisciplinary research. The different stages of development of the three sectors will allow the different technologies to learn from the experiences of one another and to share best practice in commercialisation and cost reduction. In order to realise the potential of ORE to achieve its aspirations and maintain the UK's leading position in this field; the sector needs to address some significant technical, environmental and interdisciplinary challenges. A coordinated response from different actors at national and regional level is required in order to tackle these challenges successfully. My aim for this 6-month project is to develop a shared vision for the ORE community and agreement on the strategy and design of the ORE SuperGen Hub to achieve that vision. It will be important that the project reflects the differences and synergies between the different sectors within the ORE SuperGen Hub. The specific research challenges facing offshore wind, tidal and wave technologies are quite distinct, but the work in synergic areas will add to existing research and expertise. I believe the collaborative approach will bring added benefits by sharing best practice and exploiting synergy. I will work to build the consortium and bring in expertise to cover all relevant areas. By following the Athena Swan best practice and initiatives, I will support E&D and ECR development so that ORE research has a secure future and continues to develop new research leaders.

Potential Impact:
A whole systems approach is needed when considering options for the future energy landscape. By tackling different elements independently, the community wastes time and resources, loses motivation and engages in unhelpful competition for vital research support. By working collaboratively through vehicles like the ORE Supergen Hub we can accelerate progress on these important technologies to enable an energy future that is safe and sustainable. We are at a critical point for MRE research and considerable support will also be needed for offshore wind in order to move significant research advances through to commercialisation. Fixed offshore wind is already at the commercial stage and has seen considerable cost reduction; but nevertheless needs further support and focused research to achieve the aspirations of the sector. I believe strongly in the future of ORE and am keen to make my contribution towards its success.
Combining of ORE sectors within the ORE SuperGen Hub requires careful attention to consider the differences and commonalities. The Hub must be built on a shared vision to develop a strategy that will achieve commitment and buy-in from all areas, respects the different research challenges and status in each area but also exploits the synergies for mutual benefit. I will bring a fresh and collaborative approach that will enable a flexible and adaptable Hub that routinely shares good practice and is fully integrated with the stakeholders so that research outcomes can be quickly translated into practice.
I am happy to work across the ORE remit, to identify cross-over and synergy, while also understanding the different needs of each sector. I believe the collaborative approach will bring added benefits by sharing best practice and exploiting synergy. I will work to build the consortium and bring in expertise to cover all relevant areas. By following the Athena Swan best practice and initiatives, I will support E&D and ECR development so that ORE research has a secure future and continues to develop new research leaders. I have a successful track record of research leadership, of developing strategy, driving culture changing initiatives, mediation and negotiation skills, as well as the focus and determination necessary to get the best outcome from bringing together the two very distinct communities of wind and marine, and I will bring this to leadership of the ORE SuperGen Hub.