EMEC managing director takes home Outstanding Contribution Award

EMEC’s managing director, Neil Kermode OBE, has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Subsea Expo Awards 2024.

Organised by Global Underwater Hub (GUH), the annual Subsea Expo Awards celebrate the achievements of companies and individuals working across the oil and gas, decommissioning, offshore energy, defence, aquaculture and marine science sectors.

This year’s Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Neil Kermode OBE, managing director of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

For the past 20 years, Neil has dedicated his career to combatting climate change, identifying, innovating and trialling solutions that can reduce carbon emissions and driving the global development of the marine renewable energy sector.

This commitment to a carbon-free society has resulted in many ‘first of its kind’ experimental projects at EMEC spanning marine energy technologies, subsea data centres, green hydrogen demonstrations, and the creation of sustainable aviation fuel.

As a passionate and unrelenting advocate for marine renewables, Neil has driven the development of EMEC and the UK’s marine energy industry, lobbying for regulatory and policy change and pushing for public sector support to cement the UK as the centre of the wave and tidal energy industry.

Under Neil’s stewardship, more marine energy technologies have demonstrated at EMEC in Orkney than anywhere else in the world.

Sue Barr, Chair, UK Marine Energy Council, nominated Neil for the award:

“The GUH Outstanding Contribution Award seeks to find people who really have given their all for their industry. Neil personifies this, with his work at EMEC but also more broadly. His thoughtful approach to how we describe and place the marine energy industry in a turbulent policy and global landscape has been inspirational and we are lucky to have him championing the marine energy sector.”

Neil Kermode OBE, managing director of EMEC said:

“I am genuinely grateful for the award from this important industry. The work done underwater every day in Scotland is remarkable and the skills and equipment used are exactly what we will need to help make offshore wind, tidal and wave energies a success. I’m delighted that my small contribution through my work at EMEC to these burgeoning sectors is recognised and believe this shows the transition the oil and gas sector is making towards renewables.”

Neil Gordon, chief executive of Global Underwater Hub, said:

“The Subsea Expo Awards recognise the innovators, collaborators, exporters, companies and individuals leading the way in the underwater industry. What the awards show year on year is the strength and diversity of the UK’s underwater supply chain as well as the talent and expertise working across it.”