Internship | Technical feasibility study of a novel monopile removal method

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About this position

Offshore wind decommissioning is entering a critical phase as volumes increase while practical experience remains limited. Methods applied to early-generation wind farms are unlikely to be directly transferable to today’s larger and more complex monopile-supported turbines, creating significant uncertainty around feasibility, safety, and execution. This master’s thesis focuses on the engineering feasibility of an innovative monopile removal concept, with the primary objective of feasibility and under which environmental and operational conditions it can be safely applied. The work is strongly engineering-driven, addressing structural behaviour, hydrodynamic loading, soil interaction, and operational constraints under realistic offshore conditions.

What will be your role?

This thesis aims to evaluate the technical feasibility of an innovative offshore wind monopile removal approach and to define the conditions (design, environmental, and operational) under which it can be applied.

Proposed tasks:

• Review existing monopile cutting and decommissioning methods and their technical limitations
• Define a representative monopile case study (structure, soil, metocean conditions)
• Assess feasibility focusing on structural response, stability, soil interaction
• Identify feasible operating envelopes and key failure drivers
• Translate feasible solutions into indicative operational and cost implications
• Document results in a master’s thesis and, where possible, a conference paper

What we expect from you

You have an engineering background (e.g. civil, mechanical, offshore, maritime, or structural engineering) and can critically assess the technical feasibility of novel offshore monopile decommissioning concepts, including structural, operational, and boundary-condition aspects.

• You are motivated to explore an open-ended research problem, perform a structured literature review, and translate a broad feasibility question into clear analyses and conclusions.
• You are comfortable combining technical insights with qualitative and techno-economic considerations such as logistics, vessel usage, sequencing, and key cost drivers.
• You can clearly communicate complex technical findings in a well-structured thesis and present results and recommendations concisely and transparently.
• You work independently and proactively, while effectively collaborating with supervisors and researchers from different disciplines and incorporating feedback into your work.

What you'll get in return

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges.

Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.

In addition, we offer you:

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment.
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject-specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network.
• Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively.
• A monthly internship allowance of €615 for a full-time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students.
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full-time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life.
• A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card.
• A free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration.