L-R: Professor Stephen McArthur, Associate Principal and Executive Dean of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Vice-Chancellor & Principal, University of Strathclyde, Vinod Philip, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy AG and Iliana Portugues Peters, head of the Innovation Center Berlin

The University of Strathclyde has formed a strategic partnership with Siemens Energy to address the key challenges and opportunities to decarbonise our future energy system.

Strathclyde will become part of the energy giant's innovation ecosystem, with a focus on research and innovation that accelerates the transition to net zero.

The partnership, which was formalised at a signing ceremony at the Innovation Center Berlin, aims to develop strategies and innovations that contribute to a more resilient, affordable and sustainable energy system.

The parties will work together to originate new ideas, to create new insights and enable further solution and product development.

The digitalisation of wind farms, energy storage, resilient grids and reliability are among the areas to be explored by the research team, as well as the potential for applied superconductivity.

The collaboration will also explore how to develop the people and skills needed to drive the energy system transformation. It will support young scientists and engineers, including students, doctoral researchers and postdoctoral scholars.

Siemens Energy, which supports companies and countries to reduce emissions across the energy landscape, will continue to sponsor doctoral research at Strathclyde, with a new PhD studentship in innovation at Strathclyde Business School.

In 2023, global energy related emissions rose to their highest level ever, exacerbating the worsening climate crisis. With worldwide demand for electricity expected to increase drastically by 2030, the sustainability of the energy sector and energy security are crucial.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Strathclyde, said: 
“We are delighted to form this strategic partnership with Siemens Energy to drive forward vital work to help shape the energy transition.

“At Strathclyde we are committed to finding solutions to global grand challenges and we hope that the research and innovations generated from this partnership can help to address the sustainability, affordability, and security of energy supplies.

“We have a strong track record in working with industry to deliver innovation at scale.”

Vinod Philip, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy AG, said:
“For us at Siemens Energy, the key difference that is relevant, is people.

“On my visit to Strathclyde I think that is what stuck with me, the mindset and the attitude of the team that I met.

“The energy transition will not happen alone. We rely on partners – partners such as top notch universities  like Strathclyde.“

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