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Graduating from the Master's specialisation in Offshore Energy Systems, you will be able to meet the demands posed to the engineers of the future.
The Master's specialisation in Offshore Energy Systems offers you advanced competencies in design, analysis and modelling of offshore energy systems and the system component interaction. You get to work with fluid mechanics and flow systems, such as CFD and multiphase flows, fluid power and mechanical systems, together with control, optimisation and diagnosis of offshore energy systems.
Teaching takes place in an innovative and dynamic environment. You will experience courses, problem based project work and a high degree of interaction with industrial partners and energy supply companies. Companies play an active part in the project work, and they provide guest lecturers and arrange company visits for students. All of this provides you with an excellent opportunity to build a network in the industrial world before graduation.
content of the study programmeDuring the MSc specialisation in Offshore Energy Systems (OES), you will study technologies related to all different kinds of energy systems such as offshore wind turbines and oil rigs, wave energy, etc.
The specialisation gives you insight into various technologies for energy transfer, harvesting and control of offshore energy systems. Moreover, you gain knowledge of how to design, analyse and model mechanical systems, fluid power systems and electrical systems with complex dynamics and elements with non-linear behaviour.
The objectives of the Offshore Energy Systems MSc syllabus are:
General understanding of the design, modelling and optimisation of energy systems used in various offshore energy applications
Understanding the detailed operation, functionality and interaction between the various components of offshore energy systems
Detailed insight into systems integration with respect to both systems efficiency and control engineering aspects of offshore energy systems
Developing, constructing and operating offshore energy systems in the laboratory and in real applications
Insight into the topics related to the practical realisation and implementation of offshore energy systems concerning both innovative aspects, business planning and economical considerations.
How to analyse and design subsystems for offshore wind turbines
How to model complex offshore energy systems
How to develop advanced control algorithms for offshore energy systems
During the MSc programme in Offshore Energy Systems (OES), you will study technologies related to all different kinds of energy systems such as offshore wind turbines and oil rigs, wave energy, etc. The programme covers various technologies for energy transfer, harvesting and control of offshore energy systems.
This programme provides knowledge of how to design, analyse and model mechanical systems, fluid power systems and electrical systems with complex dynamics and elements with non-linear behaviour.
The teaching of the programme is carried out in an innovative, dynamic and challenging environment through a combination of research-based courses, team-based project work and a high degree of interaction with industrial partners and energy supply companies.
The companies take an active part in providing project proposals for the problem-oriented project work, guest lectures and visits to the companies.
The teaching is carried out in English because many international students are enrolled in the study programme.
Content of Study Programme
1st Semester
For students with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from Aalborg University the credit of the project work is 15 ECTS, whereas it is 10 ECTS (INTRO project) for students with a BSc degree from another university.
The project technical topics are the same, but the students from another university have one extra course which includes the theory of Problem Based Learning (PBL). This method is the primary teaching method used at Aalborg University, and it is applied in all projects. The documentation of the project work is also different:
Students with a BSc degree from Aalborg University should
- Document the project work by a paper, a poster and a presentation at an internal conference (CES) together with an appendix report, all in English
Students with a BSc degree from another university should:
- Document the project by a project report written in English.
1st semester Project for Students with a BSc from Aalborg University: Offshore fluid power and mechanical systems
Here the focus of the project is on a mechanical apparatus or system, possibly hydraulically actuated and used in the offshore energy area. The set up system should be analysed, and models and simulations of the hydraulic actuation system and/or mechanical structure are to be made. Different methods are to be applied to find the parameters of the system. The set up models should be verified by experimental tests, either directly on a real offshore system or on a model, or parts of the systems, set up in the laboratory.
Project examples
- Design of hydraulic system for offshore installations
- Mechanical analysis of an offshore wind turbine
1st Semester INTRO Project for Students with a BSc Degree from Another University than Aalborg University: Problem-based project-organized learning in offshore fluid power and mechanical systems
The purpose of this semester is to give the students a comprehension of the Problem-Based Learning method (PBL), as it is applied at Aalborg University. Focus is to give the students experience in carrying out project work in connection with problems in the subject area of offshore fluid power and mechanical systems. The students will write a project report documenting their project work. Knowledge will be given to students in subject areas related to their chosen specialisation. The technical focus is on a mechanical apparatus or system, possibly hydraulically actuated and used in the offshore energy area. The set up system should be analysed and simulated. The set up models should be verified by experimental tests, either directly on a real offshore system or on a model, or parts of the systems, set up in the laboratory.
The assessment of the INTRO semester project is a stop-test. It is a precondition that this project is passed to be able to continue on the 2nd semester of the MSC study.
Project examples
- Control of a small hydraulic crane
- Design of controllers for hydraulic servo robot
2nd Semester: Control of Offshore Energy Systems
The purpose of the project is to contribute to students attainment of knowledge about how to design, analyse, model and control offshore energy systems and relationship between the used components, including fluid power components, electrical machines as well as compressors, pumps, etc.
The project should be based upon an offshore energy system which includes fluid power, electrical and/or thermal components to be modelled, analysed and controlled. This could e.g. be a wave energy system, offshore wind turbines, etc.
The systems should be analysed and a mathematical simulation model should be developed for the system. Based on the model, the energy harvesting method is analysed with regard to efficiency, technology choices and technology interaction. The analysis is the basis for setting up a control system and make a design/redesign of the system or selected parts hereof. The design may take its basis in the existing system (optimised redesign) or may include new solutions/designs and control methods. In both cases emphasis is placed on the fact that the system is optimised with regard to energy harvesting potential (efficiency) and system performance.
The developed design and control method, or the essential parts hereof, may be experimentally verified, either in model scale or on the real system, if possible.
Project examples
- Analysis and modelling of the Wave star transmission system
- Robust design of a gearbox for offshore wind turbines
3rd Semester: Advanced Control and/or Surveillance of Offshore Energy Systems
The project will consider advanced control, optimisation or diagnostic/surveillance systems for offshore energy systems. Based on a model, the advanced control-, diagnostic or surveillance system is set up to improve the performance of the system, either with regard to power output, energy efficiency, life time extraction, fault detections, etc. The system should be implemented and verified experimentally.
To practice scientific communication skills, the project result, or parts of it, must be published in an article written in English. This article is to be presented at an internal seminar.
Courses are offered of which 10 ECTS are to be chosen. The courses may vary from year to year, depending on the number of students of the various specialisations, the on-going projects and research performed at the Department of Energy Technology. Further, courses from other universities might be used as electable courses. However, the following two courses are always available:
- Adaptive and optimal control - 5 ECTS
- System identification and diagnosis - 5 ECTS
Project examples
- Design and control of an underwater ROV
- Analysis and design of a flowting wind turbine
4th Semester Masters Thesis in Offshore Energy Systems
This semester is devoted to work on the Masters Thesis, dedicated to topics in the field of offshore energy systems - wind, - wave, - oil & gas fields.
The Master's Thesis may study new subjects or be an extension of the project work of previous semesters. It will normally be carried out in collaboration with an industrial partner or an energy supply company assuming the character of industrial research or development work. Alternatively, it may support one or more research projects at the Department of Energy Technology, or another research facility assuming the character of research. Often, students write scientific papers reporting the work of their Master's Thesis. The project can be of either theoretical or experimental nature, or a combination of both. As courses are not normally offered on this semester, the entire semester is dedicated to the thesis work.
Examples of Master's Theses
- Fluid-structure interaction simulation of docking in rough seas
- Load reduction in wind turbines using advanced pitch control development of control strategies for power take-off systems for wave energy converters
- Hydro-dynamical optimatation of wave energy harvaster
Energy laboratories
At the Department of Energy Technology, you will find a lot of well-equipped and modern test laboratories enabling you to carry out exciting laboratory experiments. These tests will verify the theoretical analysis, which you apply during the project work. The laboratories make it possible to perform realistic tests within the electrical, thermal, hydraulic and mechanical area, and they include advanced computer-based measurement and control facilities. Furthermore, the majority of the project work is carried out in cooperation with the industry, giving you the possibility to do some of the project work in a company. The companies will come up with project proposals and provide equipment or data for the project work.
Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.
- ✔️ Flexible study schedule
- ✔️ Experienced teachers
- ✔️ Certificate upon completion
📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.
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