Climate change can alter wind patterns and speeds, which directly affects wind energy production. Some regions may experience increased wind speeds, enhancing energy generation, while others may see a decrease. Anticipating future changes in wind speeds is crucial for wind energy industry for resource assessment and consequently the profitability of future projects. Unfortunately, future climate projections of wind speed suffer from large uncertainties. Indeed, there is a low agreement between the climate models in predicting the sign of the future changes in wind speed which represents a big challenge for wind energy investment (ref IPCC AR6).  

We are looking for a PhD for a period of 36 months to study the impact of climate change on wind resources.

This PhD research aims to address the uncertainties in climate projections related to surface wind simulations, with a specific focus on the multi-scale temporal variability of surface wind over regions of interest for the wind industry but with a primary focus on the dipole North Sea/Mediterranean Sea. The study will investigate historical changes in surface wind by distinguishing the different temporal scales that drive the surface wind variability and identify mechanisms of atmospheric circulation involved in these changes. This analysis will also allow to evaluate the historical skills of climate models (CMIP6) in simulating these changes. Additionally, the research will explore different techniques to reduce these uncertainties, such as bias-correction, model selection, and dynamical downscaling. 

The ultimate goal of this PhD research is to produce robust climate projections of wind energy potential based on future wind changes to support wind energy resource and yield assessment activities.

The PhD’s mission will be to: 

The doctoral student will be based at TotalEnergies offices in Palaiseau (France), with regular interactions with LMD.

He/She will work under the responsibility of Prof. Hiba OMRANI and Philippe DROBINSKI (LMD).

The work environment is collaborative and international, with strong connections to leading academic partners. As part of OneTech, you will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary team working at the intersection of research and industry.

You are passionate about research and development and want to join an innovative international company at the heart of the energy transition.

You recently graduated from a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in climate science, meteorology, physics, applied mathematics, or related field and you have a strong interest in innovation. You have good knowledge of atmospheric circulation mechanisms and renewable energy context.
You have developed strong skills in data analysis and statistics, have experience with programming (Python, R, Matlab) and handling large environmental datasets.

Besides, you are skilled in scientific communication (written and oral) and have ability to work collaboratively in academic and industrial environments.

You have a professional level in English and speak French fluently.
You are rigorous, curious and you know how to work within a multidisciplinary team.

You are looking for a thesis in the field of renewable energies.

So don't wait, apply for our thesis offer! and send us a cover letter.

TotalEnergies values diversity, promotes individual development and offers equal employment opportunities to all candidates.