Dr. Walter L. Kuehnlein (PhD)
Professional Roles:
NRG.Vision & Tech Director
terra.blue Managing Partner Energy & Marine
Principal @ Long International Inc.
Board Member, University Lecturer, and Speaker
Focus Areas:
- Fair and sustainable use of the oceans
- Smart and sustainable energy solutions
- Blue and smart offshore and Arctic concepts
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and digitization in marine and energy technologies
Expertise:
Dr. Kuehnlein provides expert guidance on sustainable energy strategies, helping organizations reduce their carbon footprint. With a deep understanding of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emerging technologies, to create tailored plans to achieve energy goals while minimizing environmental impact and maximizing savings.
A valuable partner in a sustainable future.
Professional Affiliations:
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, German Association for Marine Technology (GMT); previously served 15 years as Chairman
Member of the German Offshore Committee of DNV (2005-2022)
Advisor for the magazine Ship&Offshore
Lecturer in “Ice Engineering” and “Offshore Engineering” at Hamburg University of Technology, and “Ocean Technology” at Berlin University of Technology
Symposium Coordinator for Arctic Technology at OMAE Conferences and Chairman of several Arctic conferences, including ATC 2016
Career Highlights:
Involved in the first drilling project in the North Caspian Sea since 1997, working as Engineering and Project Manager in the US, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and currently serving as an Advisor
Managing Director of sea2ice Ltd. & Co. KG (2008-2019)
Director at Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA), responsible for Ice & Offshore (2001-2009)
Education:
Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from Berlin University of Technology, Germany
Graduated in Civil & Ocean Engineering
Vision:
Dr. Kuehnlein advocates for designing and optimizing offshore installations and energy systems in harsh environments from an operational perspective. This approach considers environmental sensitivity, operational aspects, technical possibilities, construction and investment requirements, and life-cycle and operational costs.
While this may seem straightforward, it remains a remarkable vision because most offshore projects are currently designed primarily from an engineering standpoint. By developing a holistic concept early in the project, new offshore concepts can be formulated, significantly reducing construction and life-cycle costs—potentially by up to 50%, especially for projects in ice-covered waters.