Partner with WEC
From first conversation to funded feasibility — what it’s really like to work with us. At the Wind Energy & Control Centre (WEC), partnering with industry is not transactional. It is structured, technically rigorous, and collaborative.
1. The First Conversation: Clarifying the Real Question
Most collaborations begin with urgency and ambition.
- A new concept needs independent validation.
- Experimental data needs interpretation.
- A funding deadline is approaching.
- A technical risk must be assessed before capital commitment.
We begin with focused questions:
- What is the core technical uncertainty?
- What decisions depend on this work?
- What level of confidence is required?
- What timeframe and budget constraints exist?
In a recent offshore wind feasibility case, discussions began only days before a funding submission. Within 72 hours we convened experts, scoped a three-month assessment, produced a formal Statement of Work, issued a costed quotation, and provided a Letter of Engagement.
2. From Idea to Structured Workplan
Defined Objectives
- Aerodynamic plausibility assessment
- Force arrangement and high-wind behaviour review
- Generator topology feasibility
- First-order sizing estimates
Structured Tasks
- Rapid simulation model setup
- Targeted sensitivity analysis
- Concept-level system assessment
- Technology suitability review
Explicit Deliverables
- Documented simulation models
- Sensitivity results highlighting dominant trends
- Engineering baseline estimates
- Executive technical summary
3. Cost Transparency
A recent three-month feasibility project included:
- 27 combined academic staff-days
- Three specialist contributors
- Formal reporting and documentation
Total cost: £23,534 + VAT
Indicative Cost Ranges
| Engagement Type | Typical Scope | Indicative Range |
|---|---|---|
| Technical advisory | 3–5 staff-days | £3k – £7k |
| Focused feasibility | 20–30 staff-days | £20k – £30k |
| Extended assessment | 40–60+ staff-days | £40k – £75k+ |
Pricing depends on modelling depth, domains involved, urgency, and IP structure.
4. Working Rhythm
- Responsive: We engage quickly, even under funding deadlines.
- Technically Honest: If something cannot be proven in time, we say so.
- Iterative: Scopes refined collaboratively, assumptions explicit.
- Decision-Focused: The aim is informed next steps — not academic perfection.
5. Funding Pathways
We regularly support:
- Scottish Enterprise innovation calls
- Knowledge Exchange programmes
- UK & EU feasibility schemes
- Early-stage innovation funding
We provide structured Statements of Work, formal quotations, Letters of Engagement, and alignment with funding criteria.
6. Intellectual Property
Under consultancy arrangements:
- Outputs are typically owned by the client/funder.
- The University retains limited internal research rights.
- Pricing reflects IP transfer and restricted reuse.
Strategic collaborations (joint IP, co-development, spin-out potential) can be structured differently.
7. What You Walk Away With
- A defensible technical assessment
- Quantified uncertainty ranges
- Identified failure modes
- A clearer R&D roadmap
- Stronger funding applications
- A documented engineering baseline
Ready to Explore?
If you have a novel energy technology, a modelling challenge, a funding deadline approaching, or a strategic technical uncertainty — we welcome the conversation.
Start the conversation