Beyond Recycling: Circular Strategies for Offshore Renewable Decommissioning

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Who is this for? The successful PhD student will be co-supervised and work alongside our external partner, Frazer Nash Consultancy, https://www.fnc.co.uk/. As offshore wind farms grow to help the UK and the world hit Net Zero targets, another challenge is starting to surface: what happens when these huge structures reach the end of their life? Currently, the rules say we have to remove them completely. But is that always the smartest or most sustainable option? Could keeping certain parts in place, reusing materials, or redesigning systems make decommissioning safer, cheaper, and better for the planet? This PhD project will examine those questions by exploring different ways to handle the decommissioning of offshore renewable infrastructure. It will look at the engineering, regulations, and sustainability issues involved, all through the lens of the Circular Economy — an approach that tries to minimise waste by keeping materials and assets in use for as long as possible. You will explore topics like: Comparing full removal vs. partial removal strategies and what each means for safety, cost and the environment. Checking how ready current technologies are for large-scale decommissioning. Applying circular principles to asset management —how we design, run, upgrade, and retire offshore equipment. Learning from other industries such as rail, aerospace, and oil and gas to see what ideas could transfer to offshore wind. Understanding how regulation might change to allow seabeds to be re-used in the future. The project goes further than traditional recycling. It questions the usual “use it and bin it” model by exploring how offshore systems could be designed to last longer, be more upgradeable, and adapt over time. By analysing the real condition of existing assets, the research will help define when equipment should be upgraded or finally retired. Ultimately, this work will help shape policy, guide future regulations, and support better technology development, ensuring th

International students: Funded (see details)

UK students: Funded

UK/Home: Funded

International: Funded (see details)

1 October 2026

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• Liverpool, United Kingdom