The wind farm has awarded scholarships worth a total of £10,000 to two students who are keen to pursue careers in Scotland’s wind industry - Filoteea Moldovan and Shahim Asad, who are both studying for their Masters degrees at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Four more students will be awarded similar scholarships over the next two years, as part of a £30,000 educational partership between Muir Mhòr and the university.
The initiative is part of the project’s commitment to enhancing the skills of the Scottish offshore wind workforce at all levels, starting with pupils of school age.
Muir Mhòr is one of the world’s first commercial scale floating offshore wind projects, on track to be built off the Aberdeenshire coast, approximately 63 kilometres from Peterhead.
Filoteea is studying for an MSc in Sustainability and Environmental Studies, while Shahim is on the MSc Offshore Wind Energy course. Both are passionate about forging careers in the Scottish wind industry, which is at the heart of government plans to make the UK a clean energy superpower by 2030.
Academics praised the students’ “keen interest in and knowledge of the Scottish wind energy sector” and their ambitions to “alleviate climate change through wind energy”.
“It means so much to me to receive this scholarship from Muir Mhòr” said Filoteea Moldovan. “As an environmental scientist, I’m fascinated by the Scottish offshore wind industry and its potential to lead the revolution we are seeing in renewable energy. In the future, I hope to become an environmental consultant focusing on renewable energy developments, helping projects succeed by using data gathered from pioneering offshore wind farms such as Muir Mhòr. I strongly believe that there will be a shift towards floating offshore wind farms in the coming years and am determined to contribute to this emerging technology. On a practical level, this scholarship will allow me to drastically reduce my hours at my part-time job, giving me more time for my studies, and allowing me to challenge myself even further.”
Shahim Asad also expressed gratitude to Muir Mhòr for the opportunity presented through the scholarship, adding that it is not just financial support but an investmenty in the future of renewable energy.
“As an aspiring offshore engineer, I am committed to developing innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of offshore wind projects” said Shahim. “My goal is to contribute to Scotland’s transition to a sustainable energy future by finding solutions to some of the challenges faced by offshore wind farms, such as maximising their structural resilience in harsh marine environments. As an international student, managing living expenses alongside tuition fees is challenging, so the scholarship will help alleviate the financial pressures I face.”
As well as partnerships with universities, the Muir Mhòr team is also working with Mintlaw Academy in Aberdeenshire to provide practical activities for students enrolled in the Girls in Energy course. This initiative aims to offer young women real-world exposure to the energy industry.
If its consent applications are approved by the Scottish Government and Aberdeenshire Council, Muir Mhòr could start generating clean and renewable power in the early 2030s.
Once operational, the wind farm will be able to generate up to 1 GW of clean power, enough to provide electricity for the equivalent of up to 1.2 million homes every year.
Muir Mhòr is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and Vattenfall, both having an established track record in Scotland. Working together, both companies are committed to securing Scotland’s energy future and green economy.
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