Meet Ben Medland, founder of Drift Energy. Inspired by a chat with his 5 year old son, Ben is developing a new class of renewable energy, green hydrogen generated from ocean winds.

On 9th December DRIFT Energy Ltd became the first global winner of our LeZero Innovation Prize at an awards ceremony held at the University of Birmingham Dubai during COP28. Over 60 green startups submitted entries from 32 GEN countries, with finalists from New Zealand, Congo, Hungary, UK and Spain. Marc Ortmans and Babita Devi presented a stunning glass LeZero award created by artist Mils Bridgewater.

LeZero judges were impressed with the Drift’s potential to rapidly deliver a scaleable solution capable of generating low cost clean energy anywhere on the planet. So how does it work? Flotillas of net positive sailing ships are deployed in the world’s oceans that optimise trade winds to drive turbines to generate green hydrogen. The hydrogen can be delivered to ports, used for maritime refuelling, and even provide a renewable energy source for island nations.

GEN UK and LeZero will be supporting Drift throughout 2024 creating a team of mentors, investors and others to enable the first yachts to be built and deployed. Over the coming months we will be reporting regularly on Ben and his team’s exciting progress. If you would like to support Drift get in touch with Marc Ortmans at mortmans@genuk.org Follow us here, and on GEN UK and LeZero social media.

We will be inviting submissions for the 2024 LeZero Innovation Prize in the Spring.