New scholarship to support next generation of sustainable energy experts

One of the largest offshore wind farms in the world has sponsored a new scholarship at Teesside University to support renewable energy training.

The RWE Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Scholarship will award £5,000 to a student enrolled on either the MSc Electrical Power and Energy Systems or the MSc Sustainable Energy and Clean Technology at Teesside University.

The bursary will go directly to the scholarship recipient and can contribute to living expenses, learning materials and general spending.

Complimentary membership to the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) will be offered alongside this to support the professional development of the successful scholar.

The prestigious scholarship will nurture fresh talent within the renewable energy sector.

It also aims to support a student from an underserved community within the UK to reach their potential.

Dr Gari Harris, Director of the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, said: “We are delighted to work with Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, based right on our doorstep, to deliver this scholarship.

“Not only will it support a successful scholar in achieving their own ambitions; it will also contribute to the achievement of global net zero ambitions by further developing the pipeline of talented sustainable energy experts.”

Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is based at Dogger Bank, 195km from the nearest point on the North East coastline with an installed capacity of 1.4 gigawatts (GW).

This makes it one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, able to generate enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes.

RWE has worked with the University since 2020, working in partnership to help train students for careers in the green renewables sector.

Matthew Swanwick, Project Director at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, said: “We are delighted to announce this scholarship in partnership with Teesside University.

“RWE recognises the value of postgraduate study but also understands that the cost of taking that extra step in a person’s education can be an obstacle. We hope that this scholarship will go some way to supporting the chosen student with their studies.

“The scholarship has been delivered in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between Teesside University and the Sofia project. We remain committed to this partnership and look forward to future collaborations with the University.”

The RWE Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Scholarship is part of the University’s Teesside Transformation Fund, which invests in the next generation of student talent to build critical skills and support growing industries in the region and beyond.

Lauren Bradshaw, Deputy Director of Communications and Development at Teesside University, said: “We are proud to offer scholarships in a wide range of areas here at Teesside University – from sport and engineering to film and business.

“The positive impact that they have on our students continues to be seen, and we are grateful for the ongoing generosity of our donors, who make all of it possible.”

Those wishing to join Sofia Offshore Windfarm in sponsoring a scholarship can contact the Alumni Relations and Development team to find out more.

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