Internship | Master thesis project: Digital twin for smart operation & maintenance of hybrid power plants

Internship | Master thesis project: Digital twin for smart operation & maintenance of hybrid power plants

What will be your role?

Introduction

To address the continued threats posed by climate change, European countries are rapidly shifting from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. While integrating renewable energies into the grid has been a major success, it has also led to grid congestion, affecting both industry and consumers. However, this challenge presents opportunities for innovation. The Netherlands is well-positioned to lead in solutions that optimize energy flows and storage “behind the meter” for efficient grid use and lower consumer costs.

Hybrid power plants — integrating wind, solar, and storage — enhance energy efficiency but require complex decision-making due to uncertainties in energy prices, resource availability, and equipment health. They also face reliability issues and performance degradation caused by asset interactions, resource intermittency, demand fluctuations, and infrastructure constraints. Degradation spans multiple levels, leading to failures and reduced performance. Digital twins offer a transformative solution. These advanced tools enable predictive, risk-based operations and maintenance, improving the performance and reliability of hybrid power plants. By addressing degradation and failure risks, digital twins provide essential decision support for managing complex hybrid energy systems.

This thesis project aims to explore the application of state-of-the-art digital twin technologies to hybrid power plants, building on TNO’s existing digital twin platform. Our objectives are to enhance the safety and reliability of these systems, monitor structural and performance degradation, and develop strategies for smart and flexible operation and maintenance. By leveraging digital twin techniques, we hope to address common reliability challenges and pave the way for more efficient, sustainable energy integration.

At the Wind Energy (WE) expertise group of TNO we aim to make wind energy a reliable, integrated, and cost-effective source of renewable energy that is widely accepted by the public. Our team has years of experience in the modelling and optimization of offshore wind and hybrid power plant. This knowledge and experience drives the further development and extension of our cutting-edge modelling tools. We are looking for a master student to work on this topic, and provide a study on learning-based digital twin for offshore wind turbine visual sensors. Do you want to join us in building a more sustainable future?

What will be your role?

In this project, you will:

• Study and review the state-of-the-art digital twin methods for wind energy and hybrid power plants application;
• Develop digital twin techniques for hybrid power plant reliability modelling and degradation prediction;
• Provide case studies on a small-scale hybrid power plant and demonstrate the potential of the developed digital twin;
• Assist TNO colleagues to further develop in-house code that is linked to the topic;
• Contributing to technical reports, presentations.

Ultimately, your work will facilitate the design and business case evaluation of digital twin application to both wind energy and hybrid power plants. Your work will be carried out in the Wind Energy group of TNO, in close cooperation with a professor from TU Delft. It is required to have physical meetings at the Rijswijk office at least once every week. In other cases, you will be remotely co-supervised by TNO experts and an academic supervisor. The Wind Energy group of TNO houses approximately 60 enthusiastic, academic professionals who have in-depth knowledge of wind energy technology. Your activities will be connected to a multi-partner project in which TNO is participating, and the results of this work will be a permanent addition to our simulation toolset. The expected time to complete the project is around 9 months.

What we expect from you

We are looking for students with a relevant STEM degree (e.g. mathematics/physics, mechanical/aerospace engineering, or sustainable energy technology), currently enrolled in an MSc program and with the following prerequisites:

• Enthusiasm for research and technology development.
• Highly motivated to work within the renewable energy industry or academia.
• Interest in digital system design.
• Strong programming skills. Knowledge of Python, Matlab and/or Simulink is an advantage.
• Interest in renewable energy system and machine learning algorithm design.
• Independent and self-motivated working attitude.
• Excellent communication skills in English both verbally and in writing.

Assertive students who are in good academic standing are encouraged to apply. The selection process will start immediately. The intended start date is March 2025, with some flexibility to start later during the late spring of 2025. If you wish to apply and/or further discuss the project, please do not hesitate to contact us.

What you'll get in return

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

TNO as an employer

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society.