Dr Stephanie Ordonez Sanchez, University of Strathclyde / The European Marine Energy Centre

Dr Stephanie Ordonez Sanchez is currently a Chancellor’s Fellow at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Strathclyde University, specialising in marine renewable energy. Her research work focuses on developing sustainable solutions to address global energy, particularly in the performance and structural integrity of tidal energy systems. This involves characterising key oceanographic parameters, such as flow velocities, turbulence and wave spectra, critical inputs for designing and optimising energy capture technologies. 

Throughout her career, Dr Ordonez Sanchez has led and participated in numerous testing campaigns to assess prototypes that harness tidal currents at small scale, focusing on their energy output and optimisation practices. However, by recognising the ongoing challenges in the offshore renewable sector, she is now broadening her research to explore lifecycle assessments for offshore wind operations and novel wind turbine designs and their benefits in terms of operability and maintainability. 

Dr Ordonez Sanchez’s Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship project is a collaborative effort with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) that centres on the design of tidal stream turbine (TST) arrays. This work holds immense potential for transforming renewable energy generation. They will develop methodologies that could help with decision-making processes for designing TST arrays for various turbine designs, including seabed-mounted and floating devices. Their research will assess the hydrodynamic interactions between these turbines and identify sites using a hybrid of analytical and numerical modelling techniques. 

This work will contribute significantly to developing the tidal stream sector, offering a pathway to achieving net zero carbon emissions using alternative options. By advancing these technologies, they are taking crucial steps towards a sustainable, cleaner and greener future for society.