Digital twins for health monitoring and fault detection in wind generators and converters

Research projects

Here you may access information on the cross-disciplinary research projects that are undertaken by our CDT Students.

You may browse through all the projects, or search by criteria such as ‘research project area’, to find out about specific areas of Aura CDT research.

Recruitment is open until 4 December 2024 for projects marked ‘open to new applicants’. We have an exciting range of research projects with September 2025 entry, addressing offshore wind industry challenges.

You may also find out more information about our funded doctoral research scholarships via our Scholarships page.

You may also review our Research Case Studies document, featuring a number of our impactful research projects.

Research
area

Research
project

Institution

Lead
Supervisor

Student

Research proposals

Research area

Achieve a sustainable wind farm life cycle

Research proposal

Digital twins for health monitoring and fault detection in wind generators and converters

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Professor Antonio Griffo

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Achieve a sustainable wind farm life cycle

Research proposal

Data assimilation for wake-wake interactions

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Yi Li

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Push the Frontiers of Offshore Wind Technology

Research proposal

SafeML-based Confidence Generation and Explainability for UAV-based Anomality Detection of Blades Surface in Offshore Wind Turbines

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Zhibao Mian

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Build and support a sustainable workforce

Research proposal

Implications of Extreme Temperatures on Physiological and Cognitive Functioning in Offshore Wind Technicians

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Kate Donnan

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Accelerate consent and support environmental sustainability

Research proposal

Integrating Macroeconomics and Offshore Wind Energy: Assessing Economic Impacts and Policy Interventions

Institution

Loughborough University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Ali Moghaddasi-Kelishomi

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Accelerate consent and support environmental sustainability

Research proposal

The Economic Impact of Offshore Wind Farm Development on Energy Pricing and Market Dynamics in the UK

Institution

Loughborough University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Anna Rita Bennato

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Push the Frontiers of Offshore Wind Technology

Research proposal

Development and validation of physics-based models for wakes of large offshore wind farms

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Majid Bastankhah

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Accelerate consent and support environmental sustainability

Research proposal

Left in the wake: assessing the impact of sediment mobility in the wake of offshore wind infrastructure

Institution

Loughborough University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Robert (Bobby) Houseago

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Push the Frontiers of Offshore Wind Technology

Research proposal

Bilateral wind flow interactions with floating offshore wind turbines

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Simon Hogg

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Push the Frontiers of Offshore Wind Technology

Research proposal

Optimisation of wind farms power production using AI

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Stefano Giani

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Achieve a sustainable wind farm life cycle

Research proposal

Post installation sediment evolution in dynamic seabed conditions: impact on offshore wind cable installation, protection and performance

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Will Coombs

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Achieve a sustainable wind farm life cycle

Research proposal

Low maintenance reliable main bearings for large wind turbines

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Professor Rob Dwyer-Joyce

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Accelerate consent and support environmental sustainability

Research proposal

Unintended consequences of Offshore Wind farms: a socio-economic impact evaluation on wellbeing and community dynamics

Institution

Loughborough University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Simona Rasciute

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Accelerate consent and support environmental sustainability

Research proposal

Miniaturising gross proximate composition analysis techniques to develop accurate ecological models of marine species interactions at the scale of offshore windfarms

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Samantha Richardson

Student

Open to new applicants

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Impact of Offshore Windfarm Development on Marine Benthos: Interaction with Ecosystem Level Stressors

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Krysia Mazik

Student

Zoe Bainbridge

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Optimisation of the internal structure of wind turbine blades

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Stefano Giani

Student

Soheil Navvabi

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Impact of changing estuaries on offshore wind infrastructure: Identifying key environmental drivers

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Prof Tom Coulthard

Student

Raveena Singi Reddy

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Biorenewable honeycomb adsorbents from wind turbine wood waste for high capacity carbon capture

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Martin Taylor

Student

Isobel Wood

Research area

Accelerate consent and support environmental sustainability

Research proposal

Sustainable, Low-Cost Recycling of Plastic Transition Piece Covers used by the Offshore Wind Industry

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Grazia Francesconi

Student

Frances Longbottom

Research area

Operations maintenance and human factors

Research proposal

Human-informed Artificial Intelligence for improved wind turbine health monitoring

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Graeme Manson

Student

Akash Kumar

Research area

Big data sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

DIAS: Data-driven Intelligent Alarm System

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Professor Yiannis Papadopoulos

Student

Connor Walker

Research area

Offshore wind energy integration – challenges and impacts

Research proposal

Energy Transfer for Offshore Wind Energy

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Will Coombs

Student

Connor Whiteford

Research area

Big data sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Data-driven Infrastructure Planning for Offshore Wind Farms

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Behzad Kazemtabrizi

Student

Isha Saxena

Research area

Big data sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Ultrasonic guided waves blade monitoring

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Timothy Rogers

Student

Adam Brassington

Research area

Build and support a sustainable workforce

Research proposal

The effects of government policy on industrial development and employment relations in North Sea offshore wind

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Katy Fox-Hodess

Student

Luke Neal

Research area

Build and support a sustainable workforce

Research proposal

Impact of “blue space” as a working condition on the health and wellbeing of offshore windfarm workers

Institution

Loughborough University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Stacy Clemes

Student

CDT Research Cluster Project

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Offshore wind infrastructure in stratified seas: Interactions between waves and wakes

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Charlie Lloyd

Student

Di Huang

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Understanding the interaction between internal waves and offshore wind structures

Institution

Newcastle University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Magda Carr

Student

Seph Sanderson

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Integrated Investigation of Biofouling Impact on Dynamic Subsea Cables and Characterization of Dynamic Cable Motion for Floating Wind Systems

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Lian Gan

Student

Michael Anya

Research area

Push the Frontiers of Offshore Wind Technology

Research proposal

OPtimisation EXplainability (OPEX) for Maintenance Scheduling of Offshore Wind Farms

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Professor Yiannis Papadopoulos

Student

Louis Donaldson

Research area

Achieve a sustainable wind farm life cycle

Research proposal

Human-in-the-loop machine learning for drone-assisted Structural Health Monitoring

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Nina Dethlefs

Student

CDT Research Cluster Project

Research area

Next generation materials and manufacturing

Research proposal

Evaluating the Performance and Sustainability of Natural Fibre-Based Composites in Wind Turbine Components: A Comparative Study

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Professor James Gilbert

Student

Ifunanya Stella Ezeoye

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Understanding the emergent macro-scale impacts caused by the rapid expansion of Offshore Wind within The North Sea System

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Gavin Bridge

Student

Will Burton

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Active wind farm control via morphing blade technology

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Majid Bastankhah

Student

Jordan Fuentes-Holden

Research area

Big data sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Wind Turbine Blade Inspection using Machine Learning for Diagnosis of Structural Faults

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Nina Dethlefs

Student

Callum Rothon

Research area

Big data sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

In-Service Inference of Distributed Blade Loading

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Timothy Rogers

Student

David Goodman

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Application of wake steering to offshore wind farms

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Majid Bastankhah

Student

Jenna Zunder

Research area

Big data sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Population-based offshore wind farm fleet health monitoring and performance prediction

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Professor Keith Worden

Student

Simon Smith

Research area

Next generation materials and manufacturing

Research proposal

Multiscale Design of Fracture and Fatigue Resistant Bio-mimetic Composite Materials for Wind Energy Applications

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Stefan Szyniszewski

Student

Anna Weatherburn

Research area

Offshore wind energy integration – challenges and impacts

Research proposal

Integration of wave and offshore wind energies

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Prof Alton Horsfall

Student

Dax Blackhorse-Hull

Research area

Big data and sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Digital Twin Logistics of Operations and Maintenance for Offshore Wind Farms

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Xinhui Ma

Student

Eamonn Tuton

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Next Generation High Temperature Superconducting Generators for Floating Wind Turbine

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Guang-Jin Li

Student

Jian (Miguel) Ye

Research area

Next generation materials and manufacturing

Research proposal

Driving the hydrogen economy: electrochemical compressors for hydrogen

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Jay D Wadhawan

Student

Nicholas Wilson

Research area

Big data and sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Digital twin output functions for monitoring wind turbines

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Professor David Wagg

Student

Reuben Tinsdeall

Research area

Offshore wind energy integration – challenges and impacts

Research proposal

Integrating offshore wind with Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) for a Net Zero Humber

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Ben Kolosz

Student

Aliyu Ibrahim-Nagidi

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Hybrid Modelling of Loads and Structural response on a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Lian Gan

Student

Geng Chen

Research area

Big data and sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Blade Factory Digital Twin for Recording and Analysing Production Parameters

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Dr Peter Osborne

Student

Ewan Norris

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Enhanced mixing of stratified waters by offshore wind infrastructure

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Prof Robert M Dorrell

Student

Nilotpal Dhar

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Assessing the potential for co-location of mussel farms with offshore wind farms

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Prof Rodney Forster

Student

Enora Lecordier

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Effect of Blade Surface Contamination on Wind Turbine Energy Production

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Professor James Gilbert

Student

Sarah-Jane Tonks

Research area

Operations maintenance and human factors

Research proposal

The role of marine growth on the performance and survivability of dynamic subsea cables

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Andrew Want

Student

Teri Farthing

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Computer modelling of irregular nonlinear surface waves and their effects on offshore wind turbine structures

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Sergii Veremieiev

Student

Osama Akabat

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Primary production and carbon export across the Flamborough frontal system: interaction with offshore wind energy

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Prof Rodney Forster

Student

Benjamin Whitcombe

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Scour mitigation measures around offshore wind structures using experimental models

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Stuart McLelland

Student

Maisy Bradbury

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Assessing the viability of multi-use Macroalgae Aquaculture within Offshore Wind Farms

Institution

Newcastle University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Pip Moore

Student

Ethan Clark

Research area

Big data and sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Digital twins Era for Coordinating Energy Network inTegration (DECENT)

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Prof Hongjian Sun

Student

Emily Settle

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Assessment of echolocating cetacean (porpoise and dolphin) occurrence and behaviour in offshore development sites using a novel passive acoustic monitoring system

Institution

Newcastle University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Per Berggren

Student

Sarah Dickson

Research area

Operations maintenance and human factors

Research proposal

Advanced data analysis and robust statistics for structural health monitoring of wind turbines: from individual components to a fleet

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Prof Nikolaos Dervilis

Student

Sarah Bee

Research area

Offshore wind energy integration – challenges and impacts

Research proposal

Modelling and Optimisation for a Coordinated interconnected multi-terminal DC transmission infrastructure for integration of offshore wind energy

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Behzad Kazemtabrizi

Student

Siti Khadijah Hamzah

Research area

Operations maintenance and human factors

Research proposal

Advance condition monitoring solutions for offshore wind generators

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Professor Antonio Griffo

Student

Paul Hambly

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Satellite detection and mapping of sandbank crests: supporting location of offshore wind developments and conservation areas

Institution

Newcastle University

Lead Supervisor

Dr Clare Fitzsimmons

Student

Gemma Hoyes

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Cumulative and in-combination effects of offshore infrastructure on ecological resources

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Krysia Mazik

Student

Ellie-Mae Cook

Research area

Physics and Engineering of the offshore environment

Research proposal

Tsunami risk to UK offshore wind: Palaeo evidence and numerical model simulations

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Prof Robert M Dorrell

Student

Ben Pickett

Research area

Offshore wind energy integration – challenges and impacts

Research proposal

Low Power High Performance Neuromorphic Circuits for Remote Sensing and Monitoring in the Offshore Wind Sector

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Jean-Sebastien Bouillard

Student

Harry Burton

Research area

Offshore wind energy integration – challenges and impacts

Research proposal

Wind Sourced Energy Storage

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Jean-Sebastien Bouillard

Student

Daniel Whitt

Research area

Big data and sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Numerical modelling of wind turbine blade manufacture

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Professor James Gilbert

Student

Oliver Morgan-Clague

Research area

Operations maintenance and human factors

Research proposal

Evaluating the impact of motion travel on cognitive ability of offshore workers – a VR experience

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Peter Robinson

Student

Lisa Somerville

Research area

Big data and sensors and digitalisation for the offshore environment

Research proposal

Analysing ocean wave data for improved planning of future offshore wind and other marine activities

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Prof Robert M Dorrell

Student

Victoria Bessonova

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Impacts of seabed vibration on sediment structure and infaunal organisms

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Krysia Mazik

Student

Sophie Al-Mudallal

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

Novel acoustic methods for directly monitoring seabed sediment transport, geohazards & scour

Institution

Durham University

Lead Supervisor

Professor Peter Talling

Student

Niall Tracey

Research area

Environmental impact marine biology and aquaculture

Research proposal

The impact of windfarm associated noise on commercially important benthic invertebrates

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Thomas Breithaupt

Student

Jordan Burgess

Research area

Research proposal

Feasibility of integration of synthetic fuel as an energy vector for offshore wind

Institution

University of Sheffield

Lead Supervisor

Professor David Stone

Student

Rachael Keslake

Research area

Next generation materials and manufacturing

Research proposal

From textile waste to advanced carbon materials for wind turbine blade manufacturing

Institution

University of Hull

Lead Supervisor

Dr Dmitriy Kuvshinov

Student

Hannah Marsden