Public engagement

Offshore wind turbines provide us with clean electricity, powering our homes, vehicles and lifestyles. But how do we design and scale up what's required to meet net zero targets? Join geotechnical engineer, Susan Gourvenec, as she explores the secret superpowers of the seabed.

This lecture was recorded at The Royal Institution on 23 June 2023.
 

Engineering is at the cutting edge: from robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to mobile phones, medical technology, advanced sports equipment and driverless cars, engineering is shaping the future all around us. Engineering is for everyone: whatever your background and whatever you love – whether it’s fashion, film, sport, music or technology.

The ocean is a valuable resource, but finding a way to harness its power without causing adverse effects is a challenge. The Academy's Chair in Emerging Technologies Professor Susan Gourvenec, is carrying out research into Intelligent & Resilient Ocean Engineering at the University of Southampton, to help unlock sustainable energy, food, space and transport with less risk to life.

Explore the different seabed sediments around the UK and which types of seabed sediment most offshore wind farms are built in. 

Compare the areas used for offshore wind and fishing. 

Dr Katherine Kwa outlines different foundations and anchors that keep offshore wind turbines in place in the ocean and provide stability so they can generate clean electricity.

Watch the demo showing how much force is needed to install different foundations and anchors into the seabed and how much resistance they provide and decide which anchors are most efficient.