Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms
This master's programme prepares you to plan and manage the inspection and robotic maintenance of offshore wind farms. You will work with drones, ROVs, crawlers and condition data, with dedicated modules on maintenance logistics, availability and costs.
Prior knowledge check
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What is the Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms?
This master's programme prepares you to plan and manage the inspection and robotic maintenance of offshore wind farms. It covers fixed and floating wind turbines and the use of aerial drones, underwater vehicles and climbing robots on blades, towers, foundations and cables.
The programme includes non-destructive testing techniques, data analysis and predictive maintenance, and also addresses safety, offshore logistics and the economic feasibility of these solutions.
Programme highlights
- Know the asset: command of the components of the offshore wind turbine.
- Inspect with robots: application of drones, ROVs and climbing robots.
- Detect damage: use of non-destructive testing and computer vision.
- Anticipate failures: implementation of data-driven predictive maintenance.
- Advance your career with developers, operators, contractors and robotics companies.
- The end goal: maintaining offshore wind with greater safety, less risk and better data.
Syllabus of the Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of Offshore Wind
- 1.1. Evolution of offshore wind
- 1.2. Wind turbine components
- 1.3. Fixed foundations
- 1.4. Floating platforms and moorings
- 1.5. Inter-array and export cables
- 1.6. Offshore substations
- 1.7. Wind farm life cycle
- 1.8. Metocean conditions
- 1.9. Industry standards and technical guidelines
- 1.10. Technology trends
Offshore Operations and Maintenance
- 2.1. Maintenance strategies
- 2.2. Corrective, preventive and predictive maintenance
- 2.3. Common failure modes
- 2.4. Availability and production
- 2.5. Turbine access
- 2.6. Operation and maintenance vessels
- 2.7. Weather windows
- 2.8. Logistics and spare parts
- 2.9. Operation and maintenance costs
- 2.10. Performance indicators
Robotics for Offshore Environments
- 3.1. Overview of offshore robotics
- 3.2. Requirements of the marine environment
- 3.3. Aerial drones
- 3.4. Uncrewed surface vessels
- 3.5. Remotely operated vehicles
- 3.6. Autonomous underwater vehicles
- 3.7. Climbing and contact robots
- 3.8. In-nacelle robots
- 3.9. Levels of autonomy
- 3.10. Technology readiness of solutions
Blade Inspection and Repair
- 4.1. Blade damage
- 4.2. Leading-edge erosion
- 4.3. Lightning strikes
- 4.4. Visual inspection with drones
- 4.5. Thermography
- 4.6. Contact inspection
- 4.7. Robotic blade repair
- 4.8. Protective coatings
- 4.9. Inspection data management
- 4.10. Prioritisation of repairs
Towers, Foundations and Submerged Structures
- 5.1. Corrosion in splash and submerged zones
- 5.2. Cathodic protection
- 5.3. Fatigue of welded joints
- 5.4. Seabed scour
- 5.5. Marine growth
- 5.6. ROV inspection
- 5.7. Robotic cleaning
- 5.8. Thickness measurement
- 5.9. Inspection of floating moorings
- 5.10. Inspection of transition pieces
Subsea Cables and Substations
- 6.1. Types of subsea cables
- 6.2. Common cable faults
- 6.3. Burial inspection
- 6.4. AUV tracking
- 6.5. Distributed fibre-optic sensing
- 6.6. Cable protection
- 6.7. Substation inspection
- 6.8. Robots in confined spaces
- 6.9. Cable repair
- 6.10. Electrical risk management
Non-Destructive Testing and Sensors
- 7.1. Fundamentals of non-destructive testing
- 7.2. Ultrasonic testing
- 7.3. Eddy current testing
- 7.4. Advanced visual inspection
- 7.5. Sonar and bathymetry
- 7.6. LiDAR and photogrammetry
- 7.7. Machine vision for damage detection
- 7.8. Sensor calibration
- 7.9. Data quality
- 7.10. Certification requirements for testing
Data, Digital Twins and Predictive Maintenance
- 8.1. SCADA systems
- 8.2. Condition monitoring
- 8.3. Vibration analysis
- 8.4. Machine learning for failure prediction
- 8.5. Digital twins of wind turbines
- 8.6. Integration of inspection data
- 8.7. Asset management systems
- 8.8. Risk-based planning
- 8.9. Cybersecurity
- 8.10. Data-driven decision-making
Safety, Logistics and Robot Operation
- 9.1. Hazards of offshore work
- 9.2. Reducing human exposure
- 9.3. Risk analysis of robotic operations
- 9.4. Launch and recovery from vessels
- 9.5. Docking stations in wind farms
- 9.6. Remote operation from shore
- 9.7. Wind farm communications
- 9.8. Operating procedures
- 9.9. Incident management
- 9.10. Operator training
Economics, Contracting and Regulation
- 10.1. Levelised cost of energy and maintenance
- 10.2. Cost-benefit analysis of robotisation
- 10.3. Service contracting models
- 10.4. Warranties and liabilities
- 10.5. Insurance
- 10.6. Drone regulations
- 10.7. Regulation of autonomous marine vehicles
- 10.8. Health and safety standards
- 10.9. Sustainability of maintenance
- 10.10. Innovation and pilot projects
Master's Final Project: Robotic Maintenance Plan for an Offshore Wind Farm
- 11.1. Description of the wind farm
- 11.2. Failure mode analysis
- 11.3. Selection of robotic technologies
- 11.4. Design of the inspection campaign
- 11.5. Logistics and weather windows
- 11.6. Data management plan
- 11.7. Safety analysis
- 11.8. Economic analysis
- 11.9. Writing the report
- 11.10. Defence before a panel
Duration and format of the Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms
It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms
Career opportunities after the Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms
Questions about the Master's in Robotic Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms
No. The safety training required to work on wind farms, such as GWO courses, is separate and is not replaced by this master's.
No. Pilot licences and non-destructive testing certifications have their own official processes.
Yes. The particular features of floating platforms, moorings and dynamic cables are covered.
It is not essential. Data analysis tools are introduced progressively.
A robotic inspection and maintenance plan for an offshore wind farm, with technical, safety and economic analysis.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme has a workload of 1500 hours. You can progress at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, which is shown on this page and confirmed by the admissions team when you request information.
More programmes in Marine energy
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: a degree in engineering (industrial, mechanical, electrical, naval, energy or similar), physics or a related field, or accredited professional experience in wind energy, offshore or inspection.
- Language: sufficient command of the language of instruction to follow classes and materials. Basic technical English is recommended, since much of the sector's regulations and documentation is in English.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Process: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team. Admission is provisional until the committee validates your documentation.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enrol
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.