Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan is the James Blyth Distinguished Professor of Offshore Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, within the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering. He serves as Research Director of the Wind & Marine Systems and Structures (WAMSS) Centre for Doctoral Training, Principal Investigator of Ocean-Refuel, and Co-Investigator of CoTide UKRI/EPSRC Programmes. He is actively involved in national and international energy policy and research leadership.

His research focuses on offshore renewable energy systems, particularly wind and tidal energy technologies. Key areas include structural integrity of marine systems, hydrodynamics of floating platforms, digital twin applications for risk-based inspection, and fluid-structure interaction in wave energy converters. His work integrates experimental, computational, and real-world engineering solutions to advance sustainable offshore infrastructure.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in wave and tidal energy conversion, material degradation in marine environments, and digital twin integration for offshore safety. These works span journals in energy, ocean engineering, and applied mechanics, reflecting interdisciplinary expertise in mechanical, ocean, and energy engineering with a focus on sustainability and resilience.

• CEng (Chartered Engineer)
• FIMechE (Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers)
• James Blyth Distinguished Professor
• Expert Witness, London Court of International Arbitration
• Member, UK Government Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Science Expert Group
• Director and Offshore Wind Champion, EPSRC Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Programme
• UK Standing Member and Leader, International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC)
• Board Member, Global Underwater Hub (GUH)
• Member, Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC)
• Academic Advisory Board Member, Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC)

Brennan leads and co-investigates multiple funded research projects, including Strathclyde Inspire Gate Awards for commercialization and patent development, and large-scale programs like CoTide and Supergen ORE Hub. He supervises PhD students through the WAMSS CDT and has advised numerous researchers, as evidenced by co-authorships and project roles. His grants are primarily funded by EPSRC, UKRI, and industry partnerships.

He contributes to major research initiatives such as the Wind & Marine Systems and Structures (WAMSS) Centre for Doctoral Training and collaborates across institutions and industries to advance offshore renewable technologies. His team engages in experimental, numerical, and policy-oriented research, with datasets shared via Zenodo and participation in international conferences like the International Conference on Computational Methods in Marine Engineering.