Another edition of post-graduate studies in Offshore Wind Energy at Gdańsk Tech | Gdańsk University of Technology

Postgraduate studies in ‘Offshore Wind Energy’ were launched in autumn 2019 at the then Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology of Gdańsk University of Technology (currently: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology). Already then, it was obvious that they had great potential: the pool of 60 places was filled within three days.

– Students of the studies, the third edition of which has just started, have gained access to the latest international knowledge in the field of the offshore wind industry - says Marek Dzida, GUT professor, vice-rector for education at Gdańsk University of Technology and head of postgraduate studies. - The new field provides them, on the one hand, with the knowledge they need for work, and on the other, also the work itself, because the demand for specialists in this industry will continue to grow.

GUT is a pioneer of education in the offshore industry

Offshore wind farms are one of the fastest growing energy sectors in Europe, and the field that was opened at Gdańsk Tech based on a partnership with the Polish Maritime Wind Energy Society was the first initiative of this type at Polish universities.

Studies aimed at university graduates and specialists working in the maritime sector enable gaining professional knowledge on many aspects of the preparation and implementation of offshore wind projects, including those in the field of preparation and operation of wind farms that will soon be built in the Baltic Sea.

In the first edition of the studies, their main strategic partners were GE Renewable Energy and the Polenergia - Equinor consortium (former Statoil). Currently, the third and fourth editions have a new partner - PKN Orlen, which this year also plans to support the creation of a similar course at the Maritime University of Szczecin, as well as support research in this area conducted at the Maritime University of Gdynia.

Offshore wind farms are the future

The implementation of offshore wind farm projects in Poland will soon enter the decisive phase. The most advanced projects belong to the Polenergia-Equinor consortium (1 440 MW), PGE Baltica (2 500 MW) and PKN Orlen (1 200 MW). The first offshore wind turbines will be connected to the grid around 2025, and by 2040 the potential of the offshore market in Poland is estimated at nearly 8 000 MW.