General information about the Novel design, production and operation approaches for floating wind farms (STEP4WIND) project
STEP4WIND is a European Industrial Doctorate programme, granted under the H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network initiative. The main objective is to address both technological and economical challenges related to the development of large floating offshore wind farms. Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) could be a game changer to further decrease the cost of offshore wind energy and unlock new markets. Wind turbines placed on a floating support and moored to the seabed can harness energy in areas with much higher wind speeds, at a reduced installation cost. It also gives the opportunity to countries with deep water to enter the offshore wind industry. The project runs over 4 years and will deliver 10 PhD degrees, in joint supervision and training between the public and private sectors. The early-stage researchers (ESRs) will be part of a network supervised by 3 universities with a track-record in wind energy research and 5 companies leading the deployment of floating wind farms and heavily involved in policy-making bodies. A training programme and a mentoring scheme will equip the ESRs with key skills for their future career. Scientifically, STEP4WIND will develop floating-specific tools, methods and infrastructures to tackle the technological and economical challenges of FOWTs, from design to deployment, operation and scaling up. It will also deliver guidelines for large farm deployments, with a clear roadmap to commercialization.
Further information on the Innovation Training Network Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Novel design, production and operation approaches for floating wind farms (STEP4WIND) at www.step4wind.eu. 

Abstract of research project
The development of floating offshore wind energy involves a large number of industry stakeholders, each responsible for a different discipline. Because of the partitioned nature of the industry, overall projects are to a large degree developed sequentially. This sequential approach however often leads to suboptimal designs and higher costs of energy. Instead, multidisciplinary design analysis and optimisation (MDAO) consists of coupling tools that analyse specific subcomponents with the goal of simulating the performance and cost of the whole system. As such, MDAO is able to sacrifice the performance of some subcomponents for the benefit of others, which combined yield a better system performance or lower cost of energy. The goal of this project is to build on an existing open-source MDAO framework and extend it to floating offshore wind farms. Year 1 will assess the validity of the current framework, and specifically the inter-connections of the building blocks, to floating offshore wind farms. In Year 2, a model for dynamic anchoring systems and dynamic cables will be added to the framework to lead to an integrated design an optimisation tool (with genetic algorithms) for the turbine/foundation interaction and station-keeping system for FOWTs and farms. In Year 3, the innovations provided by the various PhD projects within STEP4WIND will be integrated in the relevant building blocks and the framework will identify the main drivers for cost reductions in FOWTs. Finally, Year 4 will be dedicated to finishing the PhD thesis.

Expected results
The principal outputs of this doctoral activity are described as follows:
An open-source MDAO framework for FOWT farms; a cost reduction analysis based on the innovations of the STEP4WIND PhD students; a list for the main drivers in cost reduction for FOWT farms.

Eligibility criteria
Candidates should have a MSc Degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic-level equivalent to a Master of Science (5 years minimum duration Bachelor + Master).

Qualifications
The successful candidate is required to have:
• Documented background in MDAO or similar
• Documented background in wind energy
• Documented background in programming (e.g. Matlab, Python, Fortran, C)
• Ability to work in a project team and take responsibility for own research goals
• Practical skills (preferably)
• Fluency in communicating and reporting in English

In addition, the successful candidate should satisfy at the time of the recruitment the following mandatory characteristics:
• having not more than 4 years of equivalent research experience (i.e. working as researcher after obtaining your master’s degree);
• having not been awarded a title of PhD;
• having not resided or carried out her/his main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

The enrolment is subject to academic approval and fulfilment of the requirements for admission to a doctoral program at TU Delft. The present PhD project will take advantage of collaboration with researchers at TU Delft and Principle Power.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff, and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related, and research skills. Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Salary and appointment terms
The selected candidate will be appointed on a temporary contract for 48 months, to be renewed annually. A contract of 18 months within this 48-month period will be provided by Principle Power France. During that time, the PhD candidate will spend 9 months at Principle Power France and 9 months at Principle Power Portugal. The rest of the time, the contract will be provided by TU Delft where the PhD candidate will be hosted. The salary will be in line with the funding schemes of MSCA action, in accordance respectively with French and Dutch rules and regulations within this regard, and Country specific requirements, as stated in the Grant Agreement and Guide for Applicants.

Monthly salary in France and Portugal (living allowance + mobility allowance) will be of 3.783,39 € + 600 € (gross amount), allocated following French specific contract conditions for MSCA candidates.
The monthly salary in The Netherlands will be in line with the CLA of the Dutch Universities. Additional payments will be made in accordance with the specific contract conditions for MSCA candidates.
Family allowance accounts for 500 €/month (gross amount), regardless of the Country issuing the working contract, and will be granted only upon specific conditions.

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Aerospace Engineering

The faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world's largest faculties devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. In the Netherlands it is the only research and education institute directly related to the aerospace engineering sector. It covers the whole spectrum of aerospace engineering subjects. In aeronautics, the faculty covers subjects ranging from aerodynamics and flight propulsion to structures and materials and from control and simulation to air transport and operations. In astronautics, topics include astrodynamics, space missions and space systems engineering. The faculty has around 2,500 BSc and MSc students, 214 PhD candidates and 27 professors supported by scientific staff.
The faculty's mission is to be the best Aerospace Engineering faculty in the world, inspiring and educating students through modern education techniques and enabling staff to perform ambitious research of the highest quality for the future of aerospace. The working atmosphere at the faculty is friendly, open-minded and dedicated.

The Department of Aerodynamics, Wind Energy and Flight Performance and Propulsion (AWEP) is one of four departments composing Aerospace Engineering. Fundamental research is performed in the Aerodynamics section. Aircraft design, propulsion systems and their integration are the main topics in the FPP section. Wind energy systems, from small wind turbines to large offshore farms, are the objective of the research of the Wind Energy Section. The department operates comprehensive laboratories, equipped with modern wind tunnels and state-of-the-art measurement systems.

The Wind Energy Section facilitates the development of wind energy technology and the expansion of the use of wind power through research and education.
In its research activities there is a focus on large multi megawatt offshore wind turbines and offshore wind farms, though urban and airborne wind power is also addressed. Both technology development aspects as well as fundamental aspects are present in the research program. With respect to educational courses, the BSc and MSc level are offered for Aerospace students, SET students and for the European Wind Energy Master (EWEM) students.

Principle Power Inc. sells the WindFloat as a technology solution and acts as service provider to developers, utilities, and independent power producers. Principle Power France (PPF) is wholly owned subsidiaries of Principle Power Inc.  and cover a full set of competencies including Project Development, Engineering Services (global design, hydrodynamics, structural modelling, outfitting & instrumentation, data monitoring & control, mooring/cable engineering, offshore logistics planning) and Project Management (planning, supervision, and HSE).