Andrew Garrad FIMechE
Winner of The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2024

For World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, we hear from Andrew Garrad FIMechE who won this year’s Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering alongside Henrik Stiesdal, for their contribution to wind turbine technology.

Andrew Garrad FIMechE

As we celebrate World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development on 4 March, it's fitting to shine a spotlight on individuals whose work has significantly contributed to this cause. Among them is Andrew Garrad, Fellow of the Institution, whose pioneering contributions to wind energy and computational design have earned him the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in 2024, alongside Henrik Stiesdal.

Andrew’s journey into engineering began at a young age, driven by a strong passion for mathematics. This led him to pursue a degree in Engineering Science at Oxford University. However, it wasn't until he found himself in an engineering interview that he made the decision to commit to the field. He credits his success to his ability to analyse and employ talented individuals who can bring ideas to life.

One of Andrew's most notable achievements is the bladed computational design tool, which revolutionised wind energy. Although the tool was instrumental in his success, he emphasises that it was only a small part of his consultancy network's operations. The network's goal was to predict all aspects of wind energy better than anyone else, from modelling turbines to providing rigorous mathematical models of wind farms' interaction with the environment and grid connections. This approach enabled engineering firms to enter the wind business and made wind farm investments more attractive to banks.

Andrew's contributions to sustainable development extend beyond wind energy. He believes engineering is essential for creating a zero-carbon world and emphasises the importance of engineers articulating the challenges they face. He also recognises the role of Institutions like IMechE in providing a framework for professional development. His application to become a Fellow of the IMechE was driven by the Institution's tradition of nurturing go-getting engineers.

His advice to anyone considering applying to become a Fellow; “Go for it.”

Find out more about becoming a Fellow of the Institution.

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  • Facts

    Name: Andrew Garrad

    Role: Now retired but was President of GL-Garrad Hassan 1984 until 2016 (Now Chair of Commission on Energy from the Severn Estuary)

    Education:

    • BA Engineering Science from University of Oxford

    • PhD Theoretical Fluid Mechanics University of Exeter

    Career history:

    • 1984:: Andrew Garrad co-founded the Garrad Hassan Group which grew to become the world’s largest renewable energy consultancy
      - GH worked all over the world and spearheaded the development of the Chinese wind industry which now produces half the world’s turbines.

    • 1980’s:: Chair of the British Wind Energy Association

    • 2013 to 2014: : President of the European Wind Energy Association

    • 2024: : Chair of the Independent Commission on Energy from the Severn Estuary

    • Onwards: : Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the IMechE, and an Honorary Fellow of New College, Oxford. He is a Visiting Professor of Engineering Mathematics at Bristol University in the UK.

    Interests outside engineering:

     

    • Classical music
    • Farming
    • Mathematics
    • Croquet

     

    Proudest moments:

    • When the results of my mathematical model of a wind turbine response was compared with full scale measurements on an operating turbine and they agreed!
    • Closing the first real project finance deal for a wind farm.
    • The award of the QE Prize is, of course, a very proud moment since it is recognition not just of my own work over the last 45 years, but also of the extraordinary achievements of the wind industry as a whole, and all the talented engineers that have contributed to it fantastic success.

     

    Dan Bunfield

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