ORLEN Neptun and Gdańsk University of Technology summarized the first semester of the 13th edition of the offshore wind energy postgraduate program

During the first semester, the participants learned, among other things, about the specifics of the renewable energy market, the environmental conditions of the Baltic Sea, and issues related to the design and construction of offshore infrastructure. Significant emphasis was also placed on the practical aspects of the sector’s operation, such as logistics and port facilities, occupational safety at sea, project certification, and the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Study visits formed an integral part of the program, allowing students to gain first-hand insight into the key components of Poland’s emerging offshore wind energy supply chain. During the first semester, the students visited the Vestas factory in Szczecin, where they learned about the production of components for the offshore wind sector, as well as the Vulcan Training & Consultancy center, which specializes in preparing personnel for this industry.

A highlight of the program was a visit to Poland’s first installation terminal designed to serve offshore wind farms – the Świnoujście Offshore Terminal. The participants also had the opportunity to visit the Tele-Fonika Kable facilities and the Baltic Towers factory, where they observed the development of Poland’s domestic local content for offshore wind projects.

ORLEN Neptun, the strategic partner of the program, is responsible for the development of the 2^nd phase of the ORLEN Group’s offshore wind energy, including the Baltic East and Baltic West offshore wind farm projects and the installation terminal in Świnoujście. Collaboration with a partner actively involved in the implementation of key offshore wind projects in Poland allows students to stay up to date on market developments and learn about the practical aspects of managing projects of this scale.

For many years, the offshore wind energy postgraduate program has supported the development of specialists for a sector that will play an important role in Poland’s energy transition in the coming years. The participants of the 13^th edition have now completed their first semester of intensive study. The next stage of the program lies ahead, during which they will continue developing the skills and expertise required to work on offshore wind energy projects in the Baltic Sea.