About this position
The deployment of renewable hybrid power plants faces significant reliability challenges due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions and uncertain operating scenarios. Currently, energy management systems primarily focus on short-term, day-ahead profit maximization, often neglecting the potential degradation of key assets within the hybrid power plant. A lack of awareness regarding the health status of these assets can jeopardize operational safety and impede the widespread adoption of hybrid power plants in power supply applications.
This internship vacancy seeks an enthusiastic Master’s student with a strong background to contribute to the development of a health-aware smart operation strategy for renewable hybrid power plants as part of a master's thesis project. Our aim is to investigate emerging AI and machine learning techniques and their application in the realm of health-aware smart operations—an area central to TNO’s exploratory research program ‘HyDeTwin’ and the recently awarded CETP project ‘DigitSENSE’.
As an intern, you will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team at TNO, participating in the conceptual development of health-aware smart operation strategies. This internship offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of renewable energy, optimization, AI and machine learning, and control theory.
What will be your role?
During this internship, you will work on the development and evaluation of health-aware operation strategy of the renewable hybrid power plant for a specific use case.
Typical activities include:
- Identify the control/optimization problem and knowledge gap.
- Develop a health-aware smart control algorithm that can (partially) solve the problem.
- Compare the developed health-aware smart control algorithm with the baseline method.
- Documenting the research, draw technical conclusions and recommendations.
You will contribute to ongoing research activities within TNO and gain hands-on experience with control and optimization, surrogate modelling, and scientific software development.
What we expect from you
For this internship, we are looking for a Master's student with a background in:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Control Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Wind energy
- Renewable energy
- Mathematics
- or a related field
Preferred qualifications:
- Solid background in mathematical optimization (e.g. MILP, operations research, convex optimization, or decomposition techniques).
- Experience with Python and scientific computing.
- Interest in energy systems and advanced optimization methods.
- Ability to work independently and communicate technical results clearly.
We are looking for a curious and proactive student who enjoys solving challenging technical problems and contributing to applied research.
Duration: preferably 9 months, with some flexibility depending on university requirements.
What you'll get in return
An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges.
Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.
In addition, we offer you:
- A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
- Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment.
- Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject‑specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network.
- Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively.
- A monthly internship allowance of € 615 for a full-time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students.
- Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full-time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life.
- A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card.
- A free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip.
TNO as an employer
Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.
Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.
At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.
The selection process
You can apply for this internship position until the 25th of September, 2026. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.
TNO will arrange an appropriate internship agreement. If you have any questions about the content of the internship or the application procedure, you can contact the person listed below.
If you start an internship with us, we will also ask you to provide a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
Important to know before applying:
- Before the start of the internship, an internship agreement must be signed. For students enrolled at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences, TNO uses the UNL-template, supplemented with several TNO‑specific agreements. For students from foreign educational institutions and MBO (secondary vocational education) programmes, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
- Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
- you are enrolled at the educational institution for the duration of the internship, and;
- the internship forms part of your study programme.
The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
- Interns at TNO must have a registered residential address in the Netherlands at the start of the internship. Carrying out internship activities from abroad is not possible.
- Are you an international student? Please note that you must have a BSN (Dutch citizen service number) before the start of your internship. Applying for a BSN can take several weeks, so make sure to start this process well in advance.
