# Event Details - **Event Name**: Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 15 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Wed, 15 Jul, 2026 at 08:00 pm - **Event Description**: DEI Public LectureAbout this EventBenj Sykes, UK Country Chair, ØrstedOver the last two decades, offshore wind power has gone from a niche technology to playing a central role in Britain’s energy system. The lecture will explain this journey and consider offshore wind’s role in providing energy security and independence, decarbonising the grid, and reducing Britain’s exposure to the volatile cost of gas-fired generation – outcomes that must be delivered at the right price for consumers and industry. Multiple projects are under with many more to follow in the coming decade and beyond. Benj will reflect on the importance of maintaining investor confidence during a period of significant market reform and increasingly divergent political views on the pace and cost of the energy transition. How do we deliver these projects on time, within budget and in a sustainable manner?Benj oversees Ørsted’s business in the UK, working with government and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the company’s offshore wind and storage assets through project development, construction and operations.Benj led the work to deliver the Offshore Wind Sector Deal with the UK Government, and also served on the government’s Advisory Panel on Highly Protected Marine Areas and continues to chair the Offshore Wind Industry Council’s Environment & Planning and Defence programmes. He led the global sector’s work for the UN Oceans Panel, forming the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Coalition and publishing their ground-breaking report on ocean renewable energy.Until recently Ørsted’s UK Country Manager, Benj previously worked at the Carbon Trust as Director of Innovation, after two decades in the upstream oil and gas sector.He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute, and holds an Honorary Doctorate from Durham University. He served on the Board of Renewable UK for eight years and is a currently President of the Society for Underwater Technology. He also serves as a member of the Board of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and the Global Underwater Hub.Agenda?: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PMLectureHost: Benj Sykes?: 07:00 PM - 08:00 PMDrinks Reception - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/durham/offshore-wind-as-the-backbone-of-a-secure-affordable-and-decarbonised-grid/100001989641157261 - **Event Categories**: fitness - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - door_time: 2026-07-15T16:45:00Z - Duration: 2 hours - Location: Mountjoy Centre • Durham University - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Durham - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: Mountjoy Centre • Durham University - **lat**: 54.76454529999999 - **long**: -1.5716695 - **full address**: Mountjoy Centre • Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/5560bcfabc82e7396023ec7290f540e78b2bc69387dd3d92969bd779e9e1d309-rimg-w1200-h675-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1779012156 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid being held? - **A:** Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid takes place on Wed, 15 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Wed, 15 Jul, 2026 at 08:00 pm at Mountjoy Centre • Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid? - **A:** Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid is organized by Durham Energy Institute. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Durham, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Offshore wind as the backbone of a secure, affordable and decarbonised grid", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/5560bcfabc82e7396023ec7290f540e78b2bc69387dd3d92969bd779e9e1d309-rimg-w1200-h675-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1779012156", "startDate": "2026-07-15", "endDate": "2026-07-15", "url": "https://allevents.in/durham/offshore-wind-as-the-backbone-of-a-secure-affordable-and-decarbonised-grid/100001989641157261", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Mountjoy Centre • Durham University", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Stockton Road", "postalCode": "DH1 3UP", "addressLocality": "Durham", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "54.76454529999999", "longitude": "-1.5716695" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "DEI Public Lecture", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-03", "availabilityEnds": "2026-07-15", "validFrom": "2026-09-03", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "0.00", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/durham/offshore-wind-as-the-backbone-of-a-secure-affordable-and-decarbonised-grid/100001989641157261" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-03", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-03", "url": "https://allevents.in/durham/offshore-wind-as-the-backbone-of-a-secure-affordable-and-decarbonised-grid/100001989641157261", "price": 0, "name": "General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Durham Energy Institute", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/durham-energy-institute/22975105", "description": "Durham Energy InstituteDurham Energy Institute delivers understanding, leadership and solutions for energy decarbonisation and the transition to net-zero.About DEITo meet current targets for reducing greenhouse emissions, addressing climate change and achieving the sustainable development goals, the global energy system needs to move towards renewable energy at unprecedented pace and scale. We need to increase sources of secure low-carbon energy, reduce fossil fuel use and change energy-use practices in our society and industry. However, to be sustainable, decarbonisation must at least avoid increasing the inequalities - and ideally, start to reduce them.Approaching energy as socio-technical helps us to understand solutions fully and from many perspectives.Durham Energy Institute works to ensure sustainable and resilient low-carbon energy systems can be developed which meet the needs of different contexts and ensure fair access for everyone.Examples of our leadership in energy research include:Promoting a whole-systems approach to energy research integrating the social, environmental, economic, policy, technical and regulatory implications of energy pathways and choicesBest practice in innovative training for future energy leadersWorld-leading research to make Offshore Wind more affordable and reliableLeading international research on smart energy solutionsWorking with industrial clusters to developing innovative decarbonisation solutionsDriving forward the UK Hydrogen RevolutionDiscovering and developing new energy materials to help achieve durable, efficient, and sustainable energy systems.With our global partners, DEI is making a real contribution to global energy transitions and ensuring effective solutions for decarbonisation are delivered at local, regional, national and international scales." } ] } ] ```