Lecturers and contributors

Lecturers affiliated to BOW

The main lecturers are employed at University of Bergen and have years of experience in various applications of offshore wind energy.

Cristian Guillermo Gebhardt

Associate professor in offshore wind energy, Geophysical Institute

For more than a decade and a half, I have been working with the mathematical and computational modeling of complex nonlinear structures that interact with surrounding flows. Among them, on- and offshore wind turbines represent the most important examples of my research portfolio.

I am quite enthusiastic about the development of offshore wind energy in Europe and think that Norway has optimal conditions to become a driving force in this field. Therefore, I would like to contribute to this transformation by means of a multidisciplinary approach.

Joachim Reuder

Professor in experimental meteorology, Geophysical Institute

My main field of research is the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) with a focus on turbulence and turbulent exchange processes. I am working mainly experimentally using both in-situ (e.g. sonic anemometers and the eddy-covariance method) and remote sensing (mainly various types of Doppler wind lidars) for the observational characterization of the ABL.

One of my latest research projects is dedicated to the development of a novel drone-based turbulence measurement system using sonic anemometry.

Etienne Cheynet

Associate professor in wind energy, Geophysical Institute

I work within the field of offshore wind energy and wind engineering. I have also studied the vibrations of long-span bridges induced by wind gusts.

My research interests include atmospheric measurement techniques, boundary layer meteorology, structural dynamics and the modelling of atmospheric turbulence.

Since 2015, I have released a few dozen of open-source Matlab subroutines that can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes on Matlab File Exchange. My complete profile page at the University of Bergen can be found here.

Christian Haug Eide

Associate professor in clastic sedimentology, Institute of Geoscience

My research is broad and is based in clastic sedimentology, which is the study of how pieces of rock break down, are transported and deposited. This is important, as these deposits tell the history of the Earth, and because these pieces of rock may act as reservoirs, resources, substrates for installations or geohazards.

I focus on how uplands and sedimentary basins are connected in space and time, how sedimentary architecture impacts the flow of fluids and intrusions in sedimentary basins, and how sedimentary processes may act as hazards to society.

Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui

Associate professor in power law, Faculty of Law

My research interests are connected with the regulation of energy markets with a special emphasis on the regulation of offshore energy, offshore wind and new energy technologies, like hydrogen. Also, I have devoted a good part of my academic career to market and competition issues in the field of public procurement and buyer power.

I am member of the Bergen Center for Competition Law & Economics (BECCLE) and Bergen Offshore Wind Centre (BOW). I currently lead the Research group for Natural Resource Law, Environmental Law and Development Law.

Sigrid Eskeland Schütz

Professor, Faculty of Law

Since 1997, I have been a lecturer in public and private law at the Master’s Programme at the Faculty of Law. I have participated in and headed numerous research projects on offshore wind, CCS, and aquaculture.

In my research, I focus on the legal aspects of climate policies and management of ocean areas and marine resources. I received my master’s in law in 1997 and have since then been affiliated with the Faculty of Law at UiB except for 1999–2000, when I worked as a deputy judge.

Finn Gunnar Nielsen

Professor in offshore wind energy, Geophysical Institute

My research has focused on the interaction between the ocean (wind, current and waves) and marine structures. In recent time my research has been concentrated on the dynamics of floating offshore wind turbines. I have more than 30 years of experience from industrial research before I joined UiB full time.

In my previous position, I headed the research project developing the world’s first full scale floating wind turbine. At UiB I also have headed the programme board for the master programme in energy.

Mostafa Bakhoday-Paskyabi

Associate professor in energy from ocean and wind energy, Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen

With a background in applied mathematics and expertise in (real-time) data acquisition systems and underwater acoustic noise measurements, I expanded my scope by earning a degree in physical oceanography, specializing in offshore wind applications and air-sea interaction processes. My background includes hands-on experience in operational ocean modelling and remote sensing.

Since 2019, my primary focus has been on multiscale modelling of coupled atmosphere-wave-ocean systems, emphasizing the impact of offshore wind turbines, particularly wake effects (short-term hybrid wind forecast of wind based on integrated numerical modelling, machine learning, and probabilistic approaches). I am actively engaged in studying the environmental impacts of offshore wind parks, specifically concentrating on noise effects and the modulation of oceanic and atmospheric flows.

More specifically, my current research centres on measuring and modelling atmospheric and oceanic flows around the Hywind Tampen wind park, integrating the vibration of the tower as a crucial factor influencing underwater noise generation and propagation. Please visit UiB webpage for detailed research areas.

Additional contributors

Shujun Zhang

Associate professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

I have more than 20 years experience from both industrial projects and academic research in the field of electric power engineering. My research interests are power electronics, motor control, power systems, wind energy, solar energy and microgrid.

One of my recent research projects is to develop a modular multilevel converter for microgrids, which is also a new technology for large-scale long-distance and deep-sea offshore wind to meet the requirement of high-power long-distance transmission. My complete profile at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences can be found here

Thomas Gunnar Dahlgren

Research professor in environmental monitoring, NORCE

I am a marine scientist and specialized in the life on the sea floor. I have studied the impact from various industrial activities in the sea, including oil and gas extraction, aquaculture, and deep-sea mining. I have been part of the offshore wind community since 2010 and was involved in environmental baseline and impact studies for early Norwegian projects such as Havsul.

I am currently working on the multi-disciplinary capacity-building initiative ImpactWind, a project funded by the Norwegian Research Council with partners throughout the industry. My recent research includes the use of new DNA-based tools to study the impact on fish in floating wind farms.

Hannah Elizabeth Petrie

PhD candidate at UiB Geodynamics and Basin Studies research group, University of Bergen.

Focusing on geological characterisation of the seabed for offshore wind foundations/anchors in the North Sea. Have recently published some of my work on the Utsira Nord offshore wind site in Geological Society of London. Background education and experience: BSc Geology (University of Edinburgh, 2013), MSc Petroleum Geoscience (Imperial College London, 2014), worked as exploration geologist/operations geologist 5 years in Statoil/Equinor (2015) before starting PhD in offshore wind site conditions at UiB in 2020.