From 27 to 29 August 2025, we organised the WINDed Summer School at Campus@Sea in The Hague, bringing together an inspiring group of students, academics, and early-career professionals. Over three days, we explored the technical, social and ecological challenges and opportunities of offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M). We created a community of students, researchers, and professionals to break down disciplinary barriers, share knowledge across technical, social, and ecological perspectives, and build a network that fosters mutual learning.
All this to prepare the next generation of experts to work on sustainable expansion of wind energy across the North Sea and beyond. Curious to learn about what we did? See the highlights, program and content below.
The WINDed Summer School offered hands-on, interdisciplinary experience designed to:
- Explore digital tools, AI, and logistics modelling
- Understand key O&M challenges in offshore wind
- Consider environmental and societal impacts
- Connect with industry experts and research initiatives
- Spark cross-disciplinary collaboration for a sustainable offshore energy future
Summer School Highlights
Technical Perspective
Digital Tools in Predictive Maintenance & remote Monitoring
Social Perspective
Environmental & Social Impacts of Offshore Wind, Community Engagement & Policy Integration
Workshops
Modeling Offshore Wind Logistics with UWiSE & Sustainable Offshore Wind Operations
VR experience
Explore an offshore wind turbine
Field Trip
Boat visit to wind energy facilities at Rotterdam Harbour
Jobs of the Future
Insights into careers in wind energy
Summer School Program
Technical Perspective: Digital Tools in Predictive maintenance and Remote monitoring
- Louis Huang & Janaki Mohanan Nair (TNO)
- Ferry Visser (World Class Maintenance) & Bart Vandehoek
- Prof Jan Helsen (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Social Perspective: Environmental and Social Impacts of Offshore Wind, Community Engagement and Policy Integration
As offshore wind expands in the North Sea, balancing renewable energy development with marine biodiversity protection is critical. This talk explores the governance challenges and opportunities in integrating offshore wind with ecosystem conservation. It examines policy frameworks, stakeholder dynamics, and digital innovations shaping biodiversity-friendly offshore wind planning. Focusing on the North Sea Region, we highlight best practices,
regulatory gaps, and emerging digital solutions for sustainable offshore wind deployment.
- Dr Caitlin Mandeville (NTNU)
Workshop on Modeling Offshore Wind Logistics: Exploring O&M Accessibility with UWiSE
This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to logistics modeling for offshore wind operations, using TNO’s UWiSE simulation tool. Focusing on the concept of site accessibility during the O&M phase, we will explore how vessel types (CTV vs. SOV) and distance to shore influence downtime and operational costs. Through a guided demo, case studies, and group discussion, participants will engage with the trade-offs involved in planning offshore logistics under weather and access constraints. No prior modeling
experience is required; just curiosity and a willingness to explore complex systems.
- Louis Huang & Janaki Mohanan Nair (TNO)
VR Experience on an Offshore Wind Turbine
Students step into a virtual reality world where they climb an offshore wind turbine, experiencing the scale and height as if they were truly at sea. They explore the nacelle, blades, and surrounding wind farm environment, guided by interactive elements. The VR try-out combines excitement with education, giving a safe and realistic glimpse into offshore wind careers.
- Dr. Xiaoli Jiang and dr Sumit Kumar Pal Pal (TU Delft)
Workshop on Sustainable Offshore Wind Operations
In this interactive workshop, participants will work in small interdisciplinary groups to tackle real-world challenges in offshore wind operations and maintenance. Each table will focus on a different theme, ranging from autonomous maintenance, biodiversity integration, and AI in monitoring, to stakeholder engagement and community acceptance. Participants will explore challenges and co-develop solutions that balance technical feasibility with
ecological and societal sustainability. The goal is to apply insights gained throughout the summer school to build inclusive and forward-looking offshore wind strategies.
- Mattijs Smits (WUR), Marco Borsotti (TU Delft), dr Helena Solman (WUR)
Jobs of the future
Students will learn about the needs of wind energy sector in terms of skills and expertise. Ekaterine will tell more about how to prepare for jobs in the future and what can the new generation of experts offer and demand from their future job.
- Ekaterine Gogoberishvili (Wind Europe)
Operations of an Offshore Wind Farm
This session offers insight about the type of knowledge and expertise that is needed to operate an offshore wind farm. You will hear more about the offshore wind farm that we will visit in the afternoon, and learn about the different profiles of experts at Vattenfall that work on the complex task of operating and managing an offshore wind farm.
- Iris Menger (Vattenfall)