Engineers awarded £2m to aid offshore renewables research
Edinburgh engineers have been awarded £2 million to support cutting-edge research into innovative offshore renewable energy technologies.
The award will provide researchers in the new Institute for Energy Systems lab with specialist equipment to advance the development of offshore power technologies.
The lab will advance research focussed on electrical machines and power electronics to produce renewable energy, with the equipment able to simulate real-world environmental conditions.
Research award
The £2m award was made by the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity with a focus on research and education.
Nearly 80 organisations across the UK received a grant as part of the charity’s latest £17m funding round.
Making renewable energy more efficient and more affordable will be an essential part of the UK’s move towards Net Zero. This grant will ensure that the team at the Institute for Energy Systems has access to world-class infrastructure to underpin their ambitious programme of research and development in offshore wind, tidal and wave power. We are delighted to continue our longstanding support for the University.
Paul Ramsbottom
Chief Executive, Wolfson Foundation
Emerging technologies
Housed in the new School of Engineering building – due to open in spring 2026 – the lab will contribute to the University’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and technological innovation.
By facilitating practical research into emerging technologies, such as superconducting electrical machines, the new lab will also help students train for future careers in the renewable energy sector.
We are very grateful for the Wolfson Foundation's generous support. The new equipment, to be installed in our newest engineering building, will fuel our pursuit of excellence in energy systems research and unlock new possibilities in sustainable energy technologies.
Professor Guangzhao Mao
Head of the School of Engineering