This PhD research opportunity focuses on understanding how climate-driven changes in metocean conditions may influence the long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) performance of offshore wind farms. The successful candidate will investigate how evolving parameters such as significant wave height, Atlantic swell patterns, storm frequency, and seasonal weather variability could affect offshore accessibility windows, maintenance logistics, and weather-related downtime for offshore wind assets. Drawing on climate projections, metocean datasets, and offshore O&M modelling techniques, the research will develop data-informed approaches to quantify the impact of changing environmental conditions on maintenance strategies, operational risk, and long-term O&M costs.

The project will ultimately provide insights that help offshore wind developers optimise operational strategies, anticipate future accessibility constraints, and support more resilient and cost-effective asset management in emerging offshore wind regions such as the North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, and the west coast of Ireland.