Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Book on an postgraduate open day

    KEY FACTS

    • Title
      MSc Marine Renewable Energy
    • Award
      Master of Science - MSc
    • Study mode
      Full-time (Part-time route available)
    • Duration
      1 year
    • Start date
       September 2013
    • Fees
       See fees information above
Skip Navigation LinksPlymouth University > courses > postgraduate > MSc Marine Renewable Energy

Aim of the programmewind turbine

Building on Plymouth's international marine reputation,  the Peninsula Research Institute in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) initiative and the South West Marine Energy Park, this unique degree focusses on the rapidly growing marine renewable energy sector.
 
Plymouth University has an international reputation for marine research and teaching. Plymouth University continues to build on its ever more vital position in the marine renewables sector as evidenced by its role as a central partner in the recently created South West Marine Energy Park.  Plymouth University along with the University of Exeter formed the Peninsula Research Institute in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE, www.primare.org). PRIMaRE provides the research support for Wave Hub (www.wavehub.co.uk), a demonstration and proving facility for arrays of wave energy devices off the north coast of Cornwall.  This critical role is being recognized by industry and has led to strategic partnerships between the university and marine renewable developers.

For an overview of the South West Marine Energy Park, please see  The South West Marine Energy Park Prospectus.

Continuing to offer the first UK masters degree in marine renewable energy, the course is fully cross-disciplinary comprising marine science, engineering, economics, law and policy. The marine renewables the course focuses on are the key emergent marine sectors: offshore wind, wave power and tidal power (both tidal barrages and tidal stream).

Programme highlights

  • Being at the forefront of the emerging field of marine renewable energy at a time when such expertise is increasingly sought after
  • Builds on the PRIMaRE investment in new staff expertise and facilities
  • Fully-integrated with the £42 million wave hub project, the world's largest wave farm, off north Cornwall
  • An ideal location to study marine renewables
​student activities in the first year of the courseSea trial exhib

​         WHY STUDY MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY?

HR Seagen in placeThe UK government is committed to a target of 15% of our energy sourced from renewables by 2020. This target is equivalent to a seven-fold increase in UK renewable energy consumption from current levels: the most challenging of any EU Member State. The renewable energy sector will require a rapid expansion with a need for graduates whose skills, knowledge and innovation can help drive that expansion.
 
 
Graduates from the programme will gain:
  • understanding and awareness of the political framework, policy, planning, technological and scientific issues surrounding and at the limits of knowledge of the marine renewable energy sector
  • conceptual abilities to contribute to the development and critical evaluation of specific marine renewable energy technologies
  • the skills necessary to assess the environmental impact of marine renewable technologies and to manage the associated planning requirements
  • employability skills of direct relevance to the marine renewable energy industries and research organisations, also comprising a commitment to their continuing professional development
  • the necessary high level skill set to pursue further academic research or scholarship in marine renewable energy.

​Programme leader and team

The programme leader is Dr Daniel Conley who is assisted by Professor Paul Russell and the other members of the programme team, Professor Deborah Greaves and Dr Dave Simmonds. This four person team combines experience of running successful masters programmes, with research expertise that achieved ratings of ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ in the UK government’s most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008).

Opportunities to study abroad

It is possible to include study abroad in the research project phase by having one Plymouth University supervisor and one supervisor overseas.