IES News

Professor Gareth Harrison joins the RSE Young Academy of Scotland - September 2011

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, has chosen the first members of the new RSE Young Academy of Scotland, the first of its kind in the UK. Professor Gareth Harrison, Deputy Head of IES, is one of a small number of engineers among the 68 young academics, entrepreneurs and professionals chosen. For further details see the Royal Society of Edinburgh website.

IES to host Industrial Doctorate Centre in Offshore Renewable Energy - August 2011

The Business Sectretary Dr Vince Cable visited the Institute for Energy Systems to announced the launch of a £6.5 million Idustrial Doctorate Centre in Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE). Over the next 9 years IDCORE will train 50 Engineering Doctorate Students in all aspects of Offshore Renewable Energy. Students will follow a taught programme of 180 credits over the five years of their programme and conduct a research project based in industry, leading to the joint award of an EngD. IDCORE is run by a consortium led by the University of Edinburgh with the Universities of Strathclyde and Exeter, the Scottish Association for Marine Sciences (SAMS) in Oban and HR-Wallingford. We aim to attract the very best EngD students into a vibrant learning environment and, in partnership with industry, train them to deliver world-class industrially-focussed research outcomes that will accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal-current technologies, positioning the UK to meet its 2020 and 2050 targets for renewable energy generating capacity, and expanding and sustaining a community of high-quality post-doctoral staff for the UK offshore renewable energy industry. More on Dr Cable's visit can be found on the University's news website.

For further details on IDCORE please see the IDCORE website.

Flowave TT Launch New Marine Energy Test Facility - May 2011

EPSRC and the University of Edinburgh are jointly investing in the UK All-Waters Combined Current and Wave Test Facility that will allow the testing of wave or tidal current devices at scales up to 1:20. The £9 million facility will be operated and managed by FloWave TT Limited, (a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the University). The tank will be round, of 30m diameter, and 4m deep. A circular array of wave-makers and circumferential variable-speed impellers will provide independent, full 360 degree control of wave and current direction to replicate, at model scale, full scale seas with 28m high waves together with currents up to 6m/s. It will simulate sea conditions ranging from those in the Pentland Firth and Falls of Warness through Strangford Narrows to the Anglesey Skerries and the Bristol Channel and Western Approaches. This is a major enhancement in the UK capability to test single models, arrays and associated operations prior to full-scale deployment at sea.

For further details please see the Flowave TT website.

Henry Jeffrey Leads Pan-European Research Project in Marine Renewable Energy - April 2011

Henry Jeffrey, a senior researcher based at IES, will lead the new pan-European research project to accelerate the development of marine renewable energy, announced by the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA). The EERA Joint Programme in Marine Renewable Energy, will be set up by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), and will bring together leading European researchers to support the development of the emerging marine renewable energy sector. The Marine joint programme is first EERA initiative to be led by the UK.

The joint research partnership, developed and led by Supergen Marine and UKERC, involves researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Wave Energy Centre (Portugal), Tecnalia (Spain), HMRC (Ireland), SINTEF/MARINTEK (Norway), IFREMER (France), Fraunhofer IWES (Germany) and ENEA (Italy).

Professor Stephen Salter wins inaugural Saltire Prize medal - March 2011

Professor Stephen Salter has won the first Saltire Prize medal for his pioneering role in the development of marine energy. The annual medal is presented under the auspices of Scotland's £10m Saltire Prize marine energy challenge. It has been created by the Scottish government to recognise outstanding contributions by individuals and groups to the development of wave or tidal power. Many congratulations to Stephen for another well-deserved accolade. See the BBC News coverage.

Professor Ian Bryden elected as Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh - February 2011

Congratulations to Professor Ian Bryden on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is an extremely well-deserved award, recognising contributions to both science and engineering and to leadership of major scientific and engineering activities.

Gareth Harrison appointed to Bert Whittington Chair - January 2011

On the 1st January 2011, Professor Gareth Harrison was appointed as Bert Whittington Chair of Electrical Power Engineering. Gareth has been Deputy Head of IES since January 2009 and will assume leadership of the Institute's power systems research activity. Gareth has been a member of staff since 2000 as a Research Fellow, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer. He also completed undergraduate and PhD degrees in Engineering at Edinburgh, the latter supervised by the late Professor Bert Whittington.

Ian Bryden Heads Up IES - August 2010

From 1st August 2010, Professor Ian Bryden takes over from Professor Robin Wallace as Head of IES. Robin has been head of IES since the formation of the integrated School of Engineering in 2002 and will now concentrate on his senior role as Dean International within the College of Science and Engineering as well as leading the £7 million Supergen Marine Energy consortium.

Ian has been Head of Marine Energy since his appointment to a Chair in Renewable Energy in 2006. Ian said: "My first thought upon taking on responsibility for the Institute for Energy Systems is to thank Robin for all his work in making the IES the significant organisation that it is. His hard work and sheer tenacity are an inspiration for all of us and I dearly hope that I will be able to guide the Institute with as much success".

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