Students and staff from both the Electrical and Sustainable Energy Engineering programmes at SETU recently embarked on a class trip to Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The group of students on the BEng (Hons) in Electrical Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Energy Engineering programmes travelled to a confidential data centre project on the outskirts of Amsterdam. Facilitated by Mercury Engineering, the project manager on site greeted students, and two representatives from Mercury’s graduate programme spoke about their experience with the company.
Mercury’s on-site engineers took the group on a tour of the facility, showing them the electrical and renewable energy aspects of the project. The group were treated to lunch before leaving for their next visit.
Sophie O'Riordan and Alana Neenan from Enterprise Ireland, also joined the visit and presented to the students on their operations and how they help Irish companies across Europe.
On travelling back to the city centre, the group took a ferry to Amsterdam North where they visited a unique Ceuvel Workshop, one of the most sustainable and unique urban developments in Europe. In this area a former shipyard has been repurposed to a circular office park, and former houseboats are hoisted onto the land are used as workspaces for various creative and sustainable initiatives.
Plants purify the polluted soil through phytoremediation, and the terrain is used for various experiments with clean technologies.
On the final full day of the trip, the group were treated to a tour Amsterdam Port, arranged by Richard Engelkes of AYOP. Students got a glimpse of the many activities at the port, including works and logistics for many offshore wind projects.
The highlight of the trip was a tour around the ‘Bokalift 1 vessel’, which is a ship used to install offshore piles and bases for wind turbines and other structures. Joined by Rebecca O’Callaghan of Enterprise Ireland, the group had lunch on board the vessel.
The group got to see the unique Z Bridge equipment which is used to safely transport workers from on-board the ship, to working platforms and wind turbines when required.
The final stop of the day was the RAI Convention Centre. Robert Zorgdrager of Van Dorp brought students on a tour of the many plant rooms and switch rooms around the facility. Students were able to view the many upgrades made to make the RAI more energy efficient.
The Department of Engineering would like to thank the many facilitators of this trip: To Mercury Engineering, Ceuvel, TMA Logistics, Bokalis, Z Bridge, and Van Dorp, who all facilitated site visits. To Prochem Engineering, Weltec, FPK Engineering, Mercury Engineering and Bokalis, who all sponsored meals for the students. A special thank you to Richard Engelkes for all his help in organising the trip. Finally, to David Williams, Martin Walshe, Stephen Gough, Siobhan Wall and all SETU staff involved.
