This PhD position is part of a larger PhD program that is set-up as a cooperation between four universities in the Netherlands (RUG, TUD, TU/e and UU), RWE and TNO. This PhD program investigates various aspects related to the development of the large-scale offshore wind farm, OranjeWind, located in the North Sea, 53 kilometers off the Dutch coast.

Your job
This PhD program focuses on the large-scale offshore wind farm, OranjeWind, located in the North Sea about 53 kilometers off the Dutch coast. The project aims to deliver over 760 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind capacity, sufficient to power nearly one million Dutch homes, and contribute to the Netherlands' offshore wind build-out targets. The wind farm will integrate offshore wind with electrolyser capacity for green hydrogen production, flexible demand solutions like e-boilers and battery storage, and floating solar panels to maximize ocean space use.

The development of a North Sea Energy system with 300-400 GW of offshore energy generation capacity by 2050 presents significant challenges. Your research will involve creating quantified roadmaps for this energy system through energy system modeling and scenario analysis. These roadmaps will provide insights into timing, location, technological design, investments, and costs, and will be used to develop policy roadmaps through backcasting methods.

You will analyze national policies and strategies, including planning and legal procedures for offshore wind parks and infrastructure, to identify best practices and address discrepancies between national approaches. The research will also focus on the innovation system around the North Sea and multilateral collaboration frameworks.

Engagement with societal actors involved in the energy transition, including government bodies, companies, startups, NGOs, citizens, and networking organizations, is crucial. Your research will address how to accelerate and upscale offshore wind capacity while balancing other key preconditions, such as ecological impacts and marine uses.

You will work closely with two PhD candidates in the same program and experts from TNO, with a 50% presence at TNO offices. Interaction with other PhD projects, including those focused on system modeling and spatial planning, is expected.

You will publish your results in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, and contribute 10% of your time to teaching.

The ideal candidate has a background, knowledge, and interest in sustainability transitions, innovation systems and theories, upscaling, lock-in, and resilience. Since this project is rooted in the social sciences, experience with interview and survey methods is essential. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the project, an affinity for or interest in working in an interdisciplinary environment is important. Excellent English writing and speaking skills are required (C1 level minimum).

We offer:

• a position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2.770 and €3.539 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.