Q and A with Tony Quinn, Chair of Energi Coast

One of the most well-known figures in North East England’s offshore wind industry, Tony Quinn, retired from his role as Director of Technology Development at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult this month.

Tony was instrumental in the development of the Catapult’s world class facilities in Blyth, and in the evolution of the Energi Coast, the region’s offshore wind cluster.

He has spent a four-decade spanning career working for industrial giants in locations including Singapore and the Middle East, as well as on infrastructure in his native North East – such as the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

Tony remains Chair of Energi Coast, which is owned and operated by NOF. And we caught up with him after his speech at the cluster’s Regional Supply Chain Showcase at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop, as he reflected on the industry he has helped to shape…

You’ve spent your career in energy and engineering, and you’re a passionate advocate of the offshore wind sector in North East England. What drives that passion?

I started my career back in the 1980s with NEI Parsons on Shields Road in Newcastle. When I started, it employed 7000 people – which would be a staggering figure nowadays. So I’ve seen the benefit of having meaningful jobs in the region, on the economy, but also on the people.

I’ve also seen economic decline: I joined NEI Parsons just as heavy engineering was on wane, so I’ve always been passionate about trying to recover some of that economic wealth.

Now, the country is craving economic growth and investment in critical infrastructure. It’s absolutely essential that North East England gets a reasonable share of that investment, and we have the capabilities to do so. We can’t rely on imported technology or imported know-how.

When you started at NAREC – now the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult – 15 years ago, did you think the offshore wind sector would grow to what it is today?

I didn’t think renewables would be embraced at quite the speed they have been and I never envisaged that, in a matter of 15 years, offshore wind would become so ‘mainstream’, with the opportunity for such growth.

When I joined NAREC in 2010, there were all sorts of studies being done to suggest the low carbon electricity future was based on nuclear being the early preferred choice for low carbon electricity generation, but this has subsequently been overtaken by renewables.

Now we’re seeing investors who are really hungry to invest in large scale infrastructure and large-scale renewable energy projects. And I am staggered to see how many businesses are seeking to make the transition into renewables.

I also think everyone is waking up to the importance of energy security and having some control over this really important resource.

What are the new frontiers in offshore wind. And what excites you about how the industry is developing?

I’m interested in technical challenges… and there are many, many technical challenges! Bigger turbines are a challenge. Large scale composite blades are a challenge. Large bearings are a challenge. Reducing our use of rare earth metals, floating wind, the better use of data and robotics, large-scale manufacturing – these are all significant challenges.

But what excites me the most is bringing young apprentices or graduates into the industry because the biggest challenge is not necessarily the technology, but it’s having enough skilled people to exploit the technology.

So, returning to my point about starting my career in a business that employed 7000 people, that would be my utopia, to have businesses of a similar scale, employing thousands of young people in an industry which is addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges.

How important are events such as the Energi Coast Regional Supply Chain Showcase in supporting the offshore wind sector – and providing a fulcrum for further innovation and growth?

The climate challenge now is so great, that it’s bigger than any one organisation or government group. Therefore, it’s really important that people come together. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s why events like this really matter.

For more information on Energi Coast, visit energicoast.co.uk

For more information on NOF, visit nof.co.uk