A Busy May at OWEC Gdańsk Tech – Education, Collaboration and Competence Development for Offshore Wind | Gdańsk University of Technology

May was an exceptionally active month for the Offshore Wind Energy Centre (OWEC) at Gdańsk University of Technology. Over the past few weeks, numerous meetings, study visits, and industry events took place, focusing on offshore wind workforce development, advanced diagnostic technologies, and international scientific and educational cooperation.

Smart Renewable Energy Engineering Students Visit CRIST Offshore

One of the highlights of May was a study visit by students of the Smart Renewable Energy Engineering programme, delivered within the DigiWind project, to the CRIST Offshore shipyard.

The visit programme was designed to provide practical insight into the offshore sector and covered topics such as project management, project team structures, stakeholder collaboration, workplace safety, and the technical and quality requirements involved in delivering large-scale industrial projects.

Students had the opportunity to observe how complex offshore projects are coordinated in practice and how sustainability principles are embedded in the daily operations of modern industrial organisations—not only through environmental considerations, but also through safety culture, organisational responsibility, and long-term infrastructure planning.

The visit also served as a valuable educational experience, allowing students to compare academic knowledge with real-world challenges faced by the offshore wind industry.

Meeting with OPITO Representatives

In May, OWEC also welcomed representatives of OPITO, the global organisation responsible for setting training, safety, and competency standards for the energy sector.

The delegation included:

• Stephen Marcos Jones – CEO, OPITO
• Hazel Lince – VP Strategic Partnerships UK & Europe, OPITO
• Artur Ambroziewicz – Owner, Vulcan Training

Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration in developing competency frameworks and training systems for Poland’s offshore wind sector. The visit had particular strategic significance, as the OPITO delegation was also meeting with other key industry and governmental stakeholders across Poland during the same period.

Advanced Diagnostic Technologies at Gdańsk University of Technology

May also featured a presentation of the RDI Technologies Motion Amplification® AIOne™ and Acoem AT400 systems, showcasing modern approaches to machine monitoring and diagnostics.

The event attracted considerable interest from both students and academic staff. Particular attention was given to the systems’ ability to visualise vibrations in real time, enabling highly accurate and non-invasive structural diagnostics.

Such solutions are becoming increasingly important in the renewable energy sector, especially for monitoring the condition of wind turbines and optimising their operation and maintenance.

OWEC Participation in the Simcenter Test & Simulation Conference 2026

OWEC representatives also participated in the Simcenter Test & Simulation Conference 2026.

During the event, Dr Hab. Beata Zima presented research on wind turbine monitoring and diagnostics, with particular emphasis on the influence of changing environmental conditions. The presentation was linked to the Hybrid Wind project and the activities conducted at OWEC in the fields of diagnostics and reliability of energy systems.

DigiWind General Assembly in Ireland

May concluded with the participation of Gdańsk University of Technology representatives in the DigiWind General Assembly, held in Limerick, Ireland.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review project progress, discuss future educational initiatives, and exchange experiences among project partners.

Participants were introduced to the project’s virtual campus and VR-based educational solutions designed for the wind energy sector. Discussions also covered the further development of the Smart Renewable Energy Engineering programme and the postgraduate course Digital Skills for Wind Energy Systems.

As part of the event, attendees also visited the Ardnacrusha Hydroelectric Power Station, providing a practical complement to discussions on modern energy systems.

Looking Ahead

June is expected to be equally busy. OWEC representatives will participate in the Torque Conference and the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW) Conference in Świnoujście, continuing efforts to strengthen scientific, industrial, and educational collaboration in support of the offshore wind sector.