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For further details of this upcoming Wind Turbine User Group and to register your place, please visit the event website
Could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience related to the focus of this event?
Graham Hawkes (GH): I work for Frazer-Nash Consultancy, as Associate Director (Delivery) within the Energy & Infrastructure Business Unit at. I am a specialist in aerodynamics and wind energy and a Technical Fellow for parent company, KBR, in these disciplines. I am also Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey where, amongst other activities, I’ve helped to write the new specialist wind energy module. Within the IMechE, I am Chair of the Renewables Power Committee, and Chair of the Wind Turbine User Group conference 2025.
What, in your experience, has been the biggest roadblock for the industry over the past 2-3 years?
GH: Wind energy, in particular offshore wind, has come on leaps and bounds across the globe, particularly in the UK. Arguably we've moved from an "Innovation Era" to an "Implementation Era" with a huge amount of work to do to get us into Net Zero 2050. However, over the past couple of years there have been some supply chain commercial pressures across the globe, which have created a little headwind on the pace and progress of project development.
What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
GH: The oldest offshore wind farms are staring to approach the end of their design life of circa 25 years. Data analysis tools and simulation methods have improved significantly in this time; hence, I’m interested in exploring delegate views on strategies and methods for life extension and repowering.
What do you consider to be the key areas of innovation in this industry, both in the UK and internationally?
GH: Floating wind for sure. This innovative technology could unlock vast wind resources in deeper offshore waters. We’ve seen a number of successful demonstrator and pre-commercial projects, but it will be great to see some of the commercial scale projects that are currently in plan, put into action. This relies on excellent engagement and technical interfacing between developers, turbine OEMs and foundation OEMs. There are a lot of potential floating concepts under consideration at the moment, it will be interesting to see how this landscape develops or converges around technologies.
Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
GH: Alex Quayle – Project Director at Flotation Energy. I’m keen to hear about the Green Volt and Cenos developments within their portfolio, and how these developments are also be planned to be used, in part, to reduce power consumption for oil and gas assets.
Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?
GH: This is the 3rd iteration of the IMechE’s Wind Turbine User Group Conference. It is intentionally a single-track technical event to promote broad understanding of wind energy issues and opportunities across the audience. Whilst we love hearing about problems solved, this is also a safe space to discuss industry challenges and seek the benefit of the hive mind of the audience.
The Wind Turbine User Group 2025 takes place on 14-15 May 2025 in London
Now in its third iteration, this specialised technical forum brings together representatives from across the UK wind energy community to share successes, demonstrate technical innovations, address common industry challenges and exchange ideas.
Featuring technical presentations and case studies, peer reviewed by a senior committee of engineers in the industry, the User Group agenda is specifically curated to meet the needs of all end users working with wind turbines and their related assets, both in onshore and offshore settings.
To view the full list of presentations and to book your place, visit the User Group website - book before 14 March 2025 to secure the Early Bird discount and save 10% off.