Ireland’s leading energy company ESB is deepening its partnership with EnerHy CDT and the University of Strathclyde through its founding role in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training. ESB is driving the transition to net zero across Ireland and Great Britain, generating and supplying electricity, operating vital energy networks, and investing in the next generation of renewable power.
The collaboration builds on two years of research that began in October 2024, including work on anchoring solutions for floating wind farms in challenging conditions, approaches to fixed‑bottom offshore wind turbine supports to enable projects at deeper sites, and the suitability of low‑emissions concrete for the construction of floating offshore wind turbines.
The next phase covers three areas: modelling offshore wind operations and maintenance under climate‑driven metocean change to improve access, scheduling and risk management; assessing community‑benefit approaches in UK renewables and setting practical metrics for fair, local value; and developing onshore wind end‑of‑life and life‑extension strategies using live turbine data and advanced modelling to produce decision tools that maintain structural integrity and long‑term value. Three fully funded PhD studentships with EnerHy are available within this programme, starting in October 2026.
John Walsh, Emerging Technology and R&D Manager at ESB, said:
“We are consistently impressed by the calibre of EnerHy research students and are pleased to launch three new projects that support our mission to keep energy secure and affordable while cutting emissions. Through EnerHy CDT and our partnership with Strathclyde, we will test ideas against evidence and day‑to‑day operations, helping us improve maintenance planning, design fair approaches to community benefit, and extend the life of existing assets.”
Professor James Carroll, Professor of Wind Energy Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, added:
“Working with ESB places our researchers at the forefront of wind‑energy innovation, giving them access to real operating data and clearly defined engineering challenges. That combination allows us to develop methods and tools that deliver real‑world impact across ESB’s wind‑energy operations. It is a privilege to partner with an organisation leading the transition to cleaner energy, and we welcome applications from future net zero leaders eager to work with live datasets, rigorous engineering and close industry collaboration on projects beginning this autumn.”
Further information including how to apply for the fully funded studentships is available on the research project page links: