● Ocean Winds and Monash University have joined forces to drive innovation and research and foster job opportunities in offshore wind while ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems.
● The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks the beginning of a strategic alliance that sets the stage for collaborative research and development initiatives to address the complex socio-environmental challenges associated with offshore wind projects in Australia.
June 20th, 2024 – Ocean Winds (OW), the international company dedicated to offshore wind energy and created as a 50-50 joint venture by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, and Monash University, a global, research-intensive university delivering education and research excellence in Australia and globally, have entered into an exciting new collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This declaration of intent sets the precedent for OW and Monash University to work closely together to foster job opportunities, build a sustainable supply chain through research and joint initiatives, and develop innovative ways to preserve Australia’s rich biodiversity in the context of offshore wind development.
As Ocean Winds expands to Australia with its High Sea Wind project, awarded on May 1, 2024, one of its top priorities is to leverage its extensive experience and best practices from its global offshore wind energy activities for the benefit of the sector in the country. OW’s offshore wind projects encompass 18 GW of capacity, with 2 GW under construction and 1.5 GW already in operation.
As industry leaders, OW recognises the vital role of academic partners in elevating sustainable energy production. OW’s collaboration with Monash will leverage the University’s cutting-edge research capabilities and OW’s industry expertise and pioneer position to implement effective strategies to minimise potential impacts on marine species. The collaboration will also seek to advance environmental assessment methodologies, monitor pathways and predictive tools to optimise outcomes in both energy transition and wildlife conservation.
Working together, OW and Monash will aim to drive economic growth and create job opportunities within Australia’s offshore wind sector. Their collaboration will have a special focus on workforce development initiatives in order to address specific skills needed in the offshore wind industry, ensuring that the sector has access to a highly skilled and qualified workforce to support its sustainable growth and expansion.
Professor Doron Ben-Meir, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Enterprise and Engagement) and Senior Vice-President of Monash University, said: “Monash University’s collaboration with Ocean Winds shows our unwavering commitment to bolstering industry capabilities for climate change mitigation. By working together, we will optimise our ability to propel the offshore wind industry forward and create innovative avenues for economic growth in Australia.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Rafael Munilla Muñoz, Chief Business Development Officer for Ocean Winds, stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Monash University on this transformative initiative. By combining our expertise in offshore wind energy with Monash University’s research capabilities, we aim to drive positive environmental outcomes and contribute to Australia’s sustainable energy transition through offshore wind. At Ocean Winds, we are strongly committed to collaborate with education institutions and academia to foster a sustainable industry and skilled workforce.”
The partnership between OW and Monash University underscores a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable industry development, highlighting the critical role of research and collaboration between industry and academia in tackling global challenges.
