PhD Position Optimal Scaling and Clustering for Airborne Wind Energy

Interested to push the technological limits of energy kites and contribute to the industrialization of a promising disruptive renewable energy technology, collaborating with leading developers?

Job description 

Wind energy is a critical component of the energy transition. Although it is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources globally, the targeted threefold increase of installed generation capacity until 2030 will be challenging to meet. Airborne wind energy (AWE) is an emerging technology that can complement conventional turbines while reducing the material consumption and environmental impact of energy generation.   

This PhD project is part of the MSCA Doctoral Network AWETRAIN (Airborne Wind Energy TRAining for Industrialization Network). Its objective is to investigate the optimal configuration for utility-scale AWE farms, considering the physics, economics, and environmental impact. To determine the optimal scaling strategies for kite farms, a toolchain comprising a statistical description of the wind resource and physics-based models of the AWE system will be combined with a cost model of the farm. Is it better to scale up the individual systems or to combine multiple smaller-scale systems into a farm? The cost model will be augmented with a life cycle analysis to incorporate the environmental impact of the used materials into the analysis. All relevant interaction mechanisms between the individual AWE systems of the farm will be taken into account. Many components of this toolchain already exist and have been validated for smaller-scale AWE systems (https://github.com/awegroup/). 

The main activities of this project will be: i) combining wind resource statistics with a physics-based system engineering model, focused on kite design and nominal operation, using this toolchain for preliminary optimization of AWE devices and plants based on physical metrics, ii) adding a cost model for AWE farms, and using this for preliminary optimization of AWE systems and farms based on economic metrics, iii) extending the cost model with data on environmental impact from life cycle analysis, using this for optimization of AWE devices and plants based on combinations of physical, economic and environmental metrics.

You will be a member of the Wind Energy Section’s Airborne Wind Energy Research Group, a leading academic player in the AWE sector, and will collaborate with two fellow AWETRAIN PhD researchers in Delft: one with the neighboring Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) and one with the research group's spin-off company Kitepower B.V. You will also have the opportunity to meet regularly and collaborate with the other PhD researchers of the AWETRAIN Doctoral Network (https://awetrain.eu) that are located all across Europe. This will include secondments to industry partners.

Job requirements 

You should have an MSc degree in wind energy or aerospace engineering from a well-established university, or an MSc degree in related engineering disciplines, such as mechanical engineering, applied physics, or applied mathematics, with proven experience (courses, projects, and work experience) in the field of wind energy or aerospace engineering. A combination of good mathematical and analytical skills, a strong interest in numerical modeling, and good programming skills in Python is required.

Eligibility criteria

Fulfillment of eligibility criteria is dictated by the European Commission under the Horizon MSCA Doctoral Networks Programme. We welcome applications from PhD candidates from any country fulfilling the following mobility criteria:

• Eligible candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their first host institution for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before their recruitment by the host institution (i.e., the starting date indicated in the employment contract/equivalent direct contract).
• Eligible candidates must have a master’s degree relevant to the chosen position or its equivalent that would entitle them to a doctorate, awarded before the start of the position.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Aerospace Engineering 

The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. 

Conditions of employment 
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met. 

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from See vacancy text gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. You can read more about the additional benefits here: Financial aspects of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in the Netherlands.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.  

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Roland Schmehl, via r.schmehl@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 30 November 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter
• MSc certificates

You can address your application to Dr. Roland Schmehl.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. 

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.