Prof. Henry Jeffrey receives Ocean Energy Europe’s Vi Maris award
05.11.2024
University of Edinburgh Professor Henry Jeffrey has been awarded the 2024 Vi Maris award during the OEE2024 Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition in Aviemore, Scotland. Vi Maris, meaning ‘power of the sea’, is an industry award established by Ocean Energy Europe (OEE), which recognizes the outstanding contribution of an individual to the ocean energy sector.
Henry has more than 25 years of experience in the energy sector, including strategic planning and management of energy technology, innovation, and infrastructure. He was a key member of the project team that installed the world’s first commercial, grid connected wave energy generator.
He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA in business. Henry is a specialist in marine energy roadmaps, action plans and strategies. He is a co-director for the UK SuperGen (Offshore Renewable Energy) project and heads the Policy and Innovation Group in the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Energy Systems. He established and heads up the Policy and Innovation Group, within the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.
Henry has also been the Head of Strategy and Internationalisation for Wave Energy Scotland for almost 8 years; and Chair of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) for more than 10 years. He was Chairman of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Ocean Energy Systems from 2017 to 2021.
A shortlist of nominees was considered by a panel of Ocean Energy Europe board members, who voted by secret ballot for the winner.
Prof. Henry Jeffrey said: ‘I am both humbled and delighted to receive the Vi Maris award, here in my home country, and in a part of the country that I’m so very fond of. I’ve worked in sector for over 25 years now and I’ve seen many rises and falls of progress and the political that the sector has had, and I’m very happy that we are now very firmly in the position of moving from innovation to commercialization. This is also a sector that is driven by people. It is driven by people’s dedication; it is driven by their enthusiasm and it’s driven by their talents. I personally feel very lucky to have worked with, and continue to work with some wonderful and talented people in this exciting sector – and even more importantly, many of which I’m delighted to also call many of these people my friends. Thank you!’
Rémi Gruet, Ocean Energy Europe’s CEO, added: “Whenever you ask: “Who would know this? Who could help?” in the ocean energy sector, you can be sure that the name ‘Henry Jeffrey’ will be among the answers. Henry has been part of many vital pieces of ocean energy applied research, such as the recent groundbreaking EVOLVE project, and positioned University of Edinburgh as an almost mandatory partner for many projects.
He is the perfect example of how academia and business can work together to deliver solutions, both at technical and political level. And on a personal level I am hugely thankful for the help and guidance he has provided me and the OEE team over the years.”