Ørsted Poland and Warsaw University of Technology signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation. The aim of the agreement is to educate future personnel for the offshore wind energy sector, and in the future – also to create a scholarship programme for the most promising students studying in this field.
The Letter of Intent, signed on November 8, 2021, begins a long-term cooperation between Orsted in Poland and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology in promoting research and development as well as implementation of safe and sustainable energy solutions for the development of offshore wind farms in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea.
– We want to use Orsted’s 30 years of experience in the offshore wind energy sector and the knowledge of hundreds of experts supporting us around the world to create a tailor-made offer for the emerging offshore market in Poland. Therefore, apart from our intention to contribute to the development of the Polish economy through our investments, we want as many engineers as possible from Polish universities to work on offshore wind farm projects in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, we are very pleased to establish cooperation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology and to create with this prestigious university a platform for educating future wind farm operators not only in Poland but also worldwide. We want to educate in Poland world-class specialists in offshore wind energy, combining the knowledge and passion of Warsaw University of Technology scientists with the practice and experience of Orsted experts – says Michael Prutsch, member of the Board of Directors of Ørsted Poland of Services, which develops offshore wind farm projects in Poland.
– Thanks to the cooperation of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Ørsted, Warsaw University of Technology will participate even more intensively in the process of creation and development of offshore wind energy in Poland. The linking element between all renewable energy sources is the power electronic devices also used in photovoltaics, electromobility and for electricity conversion and storage. Our students and research staff will gain valuable knowledge and experience in a new and dynamically developing industry sector – says dr hab. Eng. Marek Jasiński, prof. University, Head of the Department of Industrial Electronics at the Institute of Control and Industrial Electronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology.
The cooperation between the parties will begin with a series of guest lectures given by Ørsted experts. Ørsted is also planning to launch a pilot scholarship programme for master students analysing key challenges for the Polish electricity system related to the development of offshore wind farms on the Baltic Sea. Ørsted is also planning to launch a scholarship programme for researchers with whom it intends to carry out research projects for future commercialisation by the wind industry. The parties also intend to work on developing a curriculum and launching a degree program focused on offshore wind farms.
The inspiration to establish a long-term cooperation with the Warsaw University of Technology came from the study conducted in May 2021. lecture by Łukasz Kocewiak – a graduate of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at this university, and today an expert at Ørsted. – Development of a completely new sector of renewable energy for Poland will generate demand for tens of thousands of new jobs. That’s why I’m excited to return to my own Alma Mater with a mission to share the practical knowledge gained during my 13 years at Orsted with younger colleagues. I also hope that our cooperation will inspire our scientists to work on Polish solutions for SHPP, which we will then be able to implement around the world – says Łukasz Kocewiak, who heads one of the six key research and development areas at Orsted and coordinates global work on the development of innovative technologies related to the transmission of energy from offshore wind farms to the grid.
According to the Polish Energy Policy (PEP), approx. 11 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040. Their growth will generate a huge demand for workers in the sector. The Polish Wind Energy Association estimates that the sector may employ over 70 thousand people. people.
Higher Perspectives 2021 and third place among all academic universities in the country. There are currently over 35 thousand students in 19 faculties and 1 college. students and doctoral students. There are over 160 scientific circles and student organisations at the Warsaw University of Technology. Research projects carried out by students allow them to combine the knowledge they have gained during their studies with practical skills.
Source: Ørsted
