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.
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.”
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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:
Proudest moments:
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