DONG Energy – from coal and oil to competitive offshore wind: the story of a global leader’s transformation
DONG Energy was formed through the merger of several Danish energy companies around a decade ago. With a strong focus on exploring for and producing oil and gas, the newly formed company recognised the huge potential for low carbon generation to become a disruptor to the status quo, and took the bold step of moving into the more or less unknown technology of offshore wind. In this talk, Benj Sykes will take you on DONG Energy’s journey to becoming the world leader in offshore wind, and share his views on where the energy mix is heading – and what might stop us getting there.

Benj Sykes is UK Country Manager and Head of Programme Asset Management in DONG Energy’s Offshore Wind business. After setting up the Asset Management business with P&L responsibility for their portfolio of operational offshore wind farms across NW Europe, he is now focussed on the company’s extensive portfolio of pre-operational assets. He co-chairs the Offshore Wind Industry Council alongside the Energy Minister. Benj joined DONG Energy from the Carbon Trust where he led the company’s multi-million pound technology innovation activities including the Offshore Wind Accelerator. Previously Benj worked in the upstream oil and gas industry, most recently at Hess Corporation, a Fortune 100 Oil and Gas company. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society and the Energy Institute.
Date: 25 April 2017, 17:00 (Tuesday, 1st week, Trinity 2017)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre
Speaker: Benj Sykes (DONG UK)
Organising department: School of Geography and the Environment
Organiser contact email address: philipp.grunewald@ouce.ox.ac.uk
Part of: Energy Colloquia Series
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Public
Editor: Philipp Grunewald