Lowdon Named NOWI Strategic Director

Dr. Alan Lowdon named Director of Strategic Development for the National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) 

Dr. Alan Lowdon comes to Bristol with more than 20 years of experience in the offshore wind industry. As Director of Strategic Development for the National Offshore Wind Institute at Bristol Community College, he will formulate and implement the strategic plans for the creation of a Global Wind Organization (GWO) accredited offshore wind training center as the centerpiece of the National Offshore Wind Institute.

Dr. Lowdon awarded Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Alan earned his bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics at the Universities of Teesside and Aston in England; his Master of Science in engineering mathematics from Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England; his Doctor of Philosophy in engineering mathematics from Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England; as well as his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Durham, United Kingdom. Alan was honored from BS to PhD as a Rolls Royce Industrial Power-bursary recipient.

He is a cleantech professional with a strong emphasis on research, development and innovation. His technical specialization in fluid dynamics has provided him with professional experience in the fields of power generation, gas, water, oil and renewable energy. As a result, he has had the privilege of working in progressive international organizations such as NEI/Rolls Royce, British Gas, Suez Lyonnaise, Shell, ITI Energy, Mott MacDonald, Technology Strategy Board and Jacobs.

Alan was instrumental in Green Port Hull initiative in the United Kingdom where he served as Research, Development and Innovation Director for 3.5 years, helping to establish the Project Aura offshore wind initiative.

He was previously Director of Technology and Innovation at the UK’s National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) where he led joint initiatives with NREL and helped to secure in excess of $75M from UK Government and private partners to develop the world’s largest offshore wind test and demonstration asset base.  He has also participated on the boards of a number of startups, including wind farm asset inspection company Invisotech. Alan also served as an advisor and interim CEO to the development of InnovateUK's Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Centre (ORE Catapult), a key addition to the United Kingdom’s offshore wind innovation sector.

His interests extend to guest lecturing and include serving as a visiting professor at the University of Durham, United Kingdom, and at the Newcastle University Business School in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Alan also chairs the Industry Advisory Board of Durham University Energy Institute, a body that includes membership from key offshore players such as Orsted, EdF Energy, ORE Catapult and Equinor. He is also a non-executive director at the Port of Blyth, UK which has seen a renaissance over the last 10 years around offshore energy, insights that Alan will bring to his role at Bristol Community College.

The United States offshore wind industry is emerging in the North Atlantic near the Massachusetts coastline, and Bristol Community College is leading the way in workforce development.

Bristol’s National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) offers basic and advanced safety and technical training programs to prepare workers for jobs in construction, deployment, operations and maintenance of offshore wind farms. Bristol and its training partners provide delegates a state-of-the-art training experience leading to the safety and technical competency certificates required for careers in offshore wind.