Comments from Queen’s Anniversary Prize panel
1. Assessment opinion acknowledges the breadth of marine research work at the institution
and notes the work in renewable energy from wave forms. Other UK institutions are also
involved in a variety of energy research programmes in renewable technologies. What is
distinctively different about the institution’s work from others doing similar work and
where is it genuinely innovative and unique?
The unique offer from Plymouth University within the renewable energy field has two facets:
the breadth and interdisciplinarity of the research, and the direct innovative expertise in
non-engineering support aspects essential for the successful development of the industry.
No other institution in the UK has the wide range of expertise targeted at marine renewable
energy. Whilst, like other institutions, we are actively engaged in renewable energy
engineering (e.g. design of tidal turbines Dr Ming Dai; environmental enhancement of
seabed engineering structures, Profs Richard Thompson & Dominic Reeve), Plymouth
University is also able to offer the industry UK-leading ongoing research in resource
characterisation, wave-structure interaction, environmental assessment, navigation risk and
socio-economic impact, all of which are essential for the siting and deployment of devices.
Resource characterisation is focused on understanding and assessing the wave or tidal
regime at potential sites through on-site and remote methodology. On-site characterisation
includes the use of, for example, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs, Dr Phil
Hosegood) supported by NERC grants and the development of new fine particle movement
monitoring equipment which has been patented and produced under licence to a US
company (Dr Alex Nimmo-Smith). Remote wave characterisation is undertaken using the
deployment of wave buoys at the site (currently at Wave Hub), which produce real time data
on wave regime, plus the unique deployment of HF radar technology to remotely assess
wide ranging wave structure from the shore (Dr Daniel Conley).
Wave-structure interaction is a fundamental modelling and experimental necessity for
understanding how any deployed engineering structures will interface with the marine
environment, particularly how they will behave under different wave scenarios. Expertise
includes the practical assessment of interaction patterns using high-speed video within
wave-testing facilities and the subsequently mathematical modelling of these patterns (Prof
Deborah Greaves) – capacity for this will be further enhanced through the development of
the new high-grade wave testing facilities in the new marine building, which will be UKleading on completion in spring 2012.
Understanding the impact of new marine renewable energy technologies on the
environment is essential before deployment is possible and needs to be assessed during
operation; here Plymouth University has world-leading expertise over a range of areas. The
team characterising the wave environment also focuses on assessing how new wave devices
will impact the physical nature of the surrounding sea: how much energy will be removed
and what effect will this have on, for example, surfing waves reaching beaches. This physical
oceanographic capacity is complemented by our ability to assess impacts on the biological
components of the marine environment. In particularly, we are leading the development of
methodology to assess changes to the seabed community using novel High Definition video
technology (see Figure left) to provide cost-effective
and efficient monitoring protocols that are applicable
in conservation-sensitive areas, tidal streams and
where devices are deployed (Prof Martin Attrill, Dr
Emma Sheehan); traditional sampling methods are not
appropriate in such areas. This has led, for example, to
a paper in PLoS One (Sheehan et al, 2010), the first
such methodology paper to ever be accepted by this high-profile on-line journal, and Prof
Attrill being invited to write an editorial on the topic of monitoring for offshore
developments for the Society of Maritime Industries (Attrill 2011). The methodology has
been proven by monitoring the impact of the new Marine Protected Area within Lyme Bay
for Defra (Attrill et al. 2011). Please note: You will find relevant papers attached to the email.
Plymouth University staff also have leading expertise in the assessment of impact on fish
(Prof David Sims), using bio-logging and acoustic tracking to assess changes in behaviour;
Prof Sims will be leading a NERC grant in this area. This complements our expertise on
assessing the impact on large marine vertebrates, such as cetaceans and seabirds, which
academic Dr Steve Votier is leading with counterparts at Exeter University. And with our
Exeter PRIMaRE (Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy) colleagues, the
Plymouth University team has published leading reviews on the impact of marine renewable
energy on the environment (Inger et al. 2009; Grecian et al. 2010; Witt et al. In press).
Uniquely to Plymouth University, we are also able to move outside of science and
engineering to also assess the potential impact of deploying marine renewable energy
devices on shipping and navigation as, for example, wave farms have not featured in the
seascape up to now. Using our advanced ship simulator software capability, we have
designed a “virtual wavehub” enabling a future wave farm to be visualised using the
simulator and then to explore how deck officers piloting large vessels respond to this new
feature, both visually and providing the new radar signal that such farms would generate (Dr
Andrew Eccleston). As well as assessing ship operator behaviour, this work will inform the
design of beacons and safety mechanisms to prevent impact between deployed devices and
large ships.
Finally, Plymouth University also has the capacity to assess how marine renewable energy
developments impact the socio-economics of local communities and beyond, looking at
costs (e.g. fishing displacement, aesthetic impact) and benefits (e.g. additional employment).
Two example projects are those assessing the socio-economic impact of Wave Hub
investment on the Cornish economy (Dr Jingjing Xu) and a similar assessment of a newly
developed wind farm in NW England (Dr Lynda Rodwell).
Overall, no other university in the UK can cover all these important areas associated with
marine renewable energy, providing a suite of support for this industry.
2. What further information is available to show benefit to students and staff arising from
this work? How do other departments of the university benefit? What destination is
available to indication where graduates from the centre gain employment, particularly
allied to their degree specialisation?
The PRIMaRE project, within which most of the renewable energy work is focused, has
brought in sizeable amounts of income that have wide benefits across Plymouth University
in terms of facilities, staff and opportunities for staff and students. Capital income generated
by the project has allowed Plymouth University to purchase and build world-class facilities
which have value beyond the PRIMaRE project. Such developments include a new coastal
research vessel (RV Falcon Spirit), a high-spec ROV (SeaEye Falcon), a suite of environmental
monitoring equipment and new wave testing facilities to be incorporated into the Marine
Building. Whilst the Falcon Spirit has a prime role servicing renewable energy developments,
particularly Wave Hub, this purchase provides a new capacity for the university, and will be
used for teaching and research across a wide range of marine and maritime activities from
navigation to marine chemistry. Students will be able to access this vessel, particularly those
undertaking masters projects, and we are actively working with commercial partners outside
the university (UK and abroad) on collaborative projects involving the vessel. The ROV has
the highest capacity within the UK university sector, being rated to 1000m. This has already
been utilised outside PRIMaRE for mapping the seabed for Natural England in a biodiversity
project (Dr Kerry Howell) and is in demand from institutions and commercial organisations in
the UK and abroad (e.g. Mexico research programme; assessing deep-sea coral reefs).
PRIMaRE funding for the wave tanks has catalysed further funding bids providing a major
investment in the new Marine building that will provide a physical focus for Plymouth
University’s Marine Institute. The tanks will provide capacity currently not available within
the UK university sector and thus be available for users within the staff and student
community outside of renewable energy (e.g. mechanical engineering, oceanography,
marine sports), with the great potential for students to be interacting with commercial
organisations where appropriate. The wide potential of this facility is highlighted through a
novel science-arts interaction involving one of the Marine Institute’s artists in residence,
Alexis Kirke, who specialises in electronic music. For the opening of the building in 2012,
Alexis is creating a new piece in collaboration with Prof Deborah Greaves using wave forms
from the Wave Hub wave buoys to create ambient music and then feed this back into
control of the wave tank’s wave generators to provide a visual wave pattern matching that
in the natural environment. As was referenced in the original application, the dialogue
between arts and marine sciences is ongoing, with author Philip Hoare operating as the
writer-in-residence, and Dr Deborah Robinson as its artist-in-residence. And one of the
research centres located within the Faculty of Arts – the Centre for Media, Art and Design
Research – has a specific research group called Land/Water which is embracing work that
addresses issues such as nature, climate and sustainability.
The building will provide a focus for marine activity, the Marine Institute already being the
broadest in the UK in terms of the number of schools and faculties involved. Marine at
Plymouth is not just marine science, but has components within the Faculties of Business
and Arts. Marine investment therefore spreads widely across the university in terms of
impact and the opportunity for truly novel interdisciplinary projects.
A spin-off from the renewable energy expertise developed over the last five years has been
the development of the new masters degree in Marine Renewable Energy, the first such
masters programme in the UK. This offers a new opportunity for students to gain expertise
in this quickly developing area, and as the first in the UK (graduating this year) we will be
giving students on the course a potential head start within the industry.
The university has close associations with many of its alumni in the marine sector. Many
remain in the South West, taking advantage of the natural coastline to build their careers.
Others are able to take their skills and apply them to positions around the world. In marine
biology, for example, Plymouth graduates have gone on to work in broadcasting (e.g. BBC
presenters Monty Halls and Tooni Mahto – both of whom have retained close links with the
University); with partners in the Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership, such as the Marine
Biological Association and the National Marine Aquarium; and a variety of UK and overseas
organisations such as Greenpeace; the fisheries group of the World Wildlife Fund; IFREMER
(Institut Français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer); Fugro Survey Ltd; the
Maldivian Manta Ray Project; the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
(New Zealand); the Shark Trust; and the British Antarctic Survey, to name but a few.
The IMO has reported that there is a global shortage of professional seafarers (their ‘Go To
Sea’ campaign), so Plymouth’s Marine Studies degrees and foundation courses, which are
accredited by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, provide almost instant employability in
the industry. Among the destinations of Plymouth graduates in 2010 and 2011 included 3rd
Officer on a cruise ship; 3rd Officer, Anchor Handler; Super yacht Crewmember; Marine
Weather Forecaster; 2nd Officer/DPO on a Dive Vessel. Alumni can also be found working in
the IMO itself, the Nautical Institute, and commercial ports around the country.
The University recently filmed a number of interviews with alumni, asking them for their
views on how their degrees helped them to find jobs and succeed in the industry. The links
below take you to a small selection:
http://upmedia.plymouth.ac.uk/Play.aspx?VideoId=2223
http://upmedia.plymouth.ac.uk/Play.aspx?VideoId=2227
http://upmedia.plymouth.ac.uk/Play.aspx?VideoId=2228
3. What plans are envisaged for the development of the institution’s marine research
capability and for its portfolio work with UK and overseas clients? What contingencies are
envisaged to maintain the long-term sustainability of marine projects, particularly if
income from government funding to higher education falls?
Overall, the university has anticipated the changes to the HE funding sector, and has been
working to diversify its income sources. At the same time, it is also looking to help
coordinate the South West’s response to the opportunities emerging in the marine sector.
According to a report commissioned by the South West Regional Development Agency last
year, the sector could create almost 6,000 new jobs and trigger a £4.8 billion investment in
the Westcountry's economy from 2015.
The institution is working on a coordinated response to these opportunities, to bring
together the region's existing physical and intellectual infrastructure, along with plans for
new centres focused on Plymouth including a Marine Energy Park, a Technology Innovation
Centre and an Enterprise Zone. All three have particular relevance to this application as they
demonstrate the university’s long-term approach to helping establish the right economic
infrastructure from which a sustainable marine renewables sector could thrive. The
university is working to submit a bid for a marine energy park later this year, with a view to
setting out Plymouth and Cornwall’s stall to play host to such a facility – and has received a
letter from Prime Minister David Cameron in which he has lent his support to the proposal.
Discussions are also taking place with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the
Royal Navy, and the private sector at Devonport. With regard to a Technology Innovation
Centre, Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced that it will be focused on offshore
renewables, and there are discussions currently taking place between the South West and
centres in North East England, about the idea of complementary bids with the Westcountry
focusing on wave power and the Scottish sites focusing on offshore wind and tidal power.
The university has worked on an expression of interest with local authorities in Plymouth
and Cornwall as well as the Combined Universities in Cornwall. This involves a multi-site
approach including the marine building at the university, an Environment and Sustainability
Institute in Cornwall, the proposed Marine Energy Park at Hayle, and Falmouth.
If that is the strategic blue-print, the university is already working hard to realise that
potential. The aforementioned marine facility is central to both Plymouth’s plans for the
development of its marine research capability and the question of sustainability in the
longer term. Not only will it provide a physical hub for the university’s many researchers and
staff, but also a suite of commercial testing facilities which will offer new resources to the
industry and new revenue streams to the institution. The wave tank facilities, for example,
will be un-matched anywhere else in the UK, and will be marketed as a book-able testing
facility for off-shore engineering and oceanography businesses. Similarly, the university’s
research vessel, Falcon Spirit (and its equipment, including the remote operated vehicle), is
already being used by businesses in just a few short months since its purchase, and there are
contracts in place for research from a Florida-based consultancy, and for the provision of sea
training to a major UK firm.
The placement of business incubation hubs within the marine facility, and the specific focus
upon providing solutions for industry, are allied to the university’s enterprise engagement
strategy – an expertise that has led to Plymouth being marketed as the enterprise university.
The university owns or manages over £100m worth of incubation and science park
infrastructure in Devon and Cornwall, and is the chief coordinator of the Peninsula Growth
Acceleration and Investment Network (GAIN), a regional programme to rebalance the
economies of the South West away from the public sector, in support of high-growth,
strategically important areas. The network brings together academics, SMEs, funders and
local authorities in order to aid the commercialisation of research, and the development of
new business. Since the development of a sustainable marine renewables sector in the
South West has been identified as a key development target of the future, GAIN is similarly
focussed on that sector, and will have its de facto HQ within the University’s marine facility.
Since the submission of the Plymouth entry earlier this year, there has been a further
important development which advances the GAIN story. In June, the university signed a
long-term commercialisation deal with Frontier IP, who will work alongside the institution to
develop intellectual property that falls under the GAIN umbrella. Frontier has a pedigree for
marine and maritime development, and already partners the University of Dundee and the
Robert Gordon University, who have specialisms in the oil and marine renewable sectors.
Using their expertise at commercialising intellectual property and opening access to funding
streams, Frontier will further diversify the university’s income stream and support the
development of spin out companies and patented technology. Plymouth was also the only
university in the country to be approved at stage one of the application process for the
Regional Growth Fund, receiving £1m to allocate to SMEs in the region, including those in
the marine sector.
In the past three weeks, the university has also signed an agreement of mutual
understanding with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), of the United Arab Emirates, to
build and offer new programs in the field of maritime sciences and marine engineering.
Under the terms of the agreement the two institutions will explore ways of establishing a
mutually beneficial strategic partnership in maritime education and research and specifically
collaborate in launching a degree in Applied Maritime Studies. They will also collaborate to
support the development of applied marine research to support the UAE’s national interests.
This strengthens the university’s connections with the Middle East and provides yet further
income generation opportunities. Another deal, this time with the Kind Fahd Naval Academy
in Saudi Arabia, is also on the verge of being publicised. This will involve the university
accrediting the internationally-recognised Marine Studies Diploma, which covers essential
skills in hydrography, navigation, oceanography, meteorology, leadership and international
relations. The deal will be worth in excess of £3.5m per annum, and will also sets up a one
year access course in English, Maths and Science, and enables students to ‘top up’ to a full
BSc degree with a further year of study. Plymouth will provide the framework, content and
validation for the diploma, which will be delivered by KFNA in Saudi Arabia from September
onwards.
Through the Marine Institute, Plymouth is also the only University to have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Qingdao, China. This is the oldest, largest and most prestigious marine institution
in China and we are currently developing collaborative research projects, staff and student
exchanges and a scientific party from Plymouth will be undertaking our 3rd visit to Qingdao
this autumn. We also have agreements with Ocean University of China and Shanghai
Maritime University, the latter already providing a major income stream through increasing
numbers of students from SMU coming to Plymouth to study on maritime and marine
sciences courses.
References Cited
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