About Rick Veldhuizen
Since 2020, Rick has been conducting research at Deltares into the interaction between water, soil, and structures in hydraulic engineering. His work focuses on the development of sustainable offshore energy solutions, in particular excavation processes and soil protection measures that contribute to cost-efficient and robust offshore infrastructure. Although the focus is on offshore wind energy, Rick is also working on innovative research into submarine cables, batteries on the seabed, and CO2 storage, among other things. In this way, he contributes to Deltares' mission for safe and sustainable delta regions. He has a background in (Technical) Earth Sciences with a BSc from Utrecht University and an MSc from Delft University of Technology.
As a technical advisor and researcher, Rick works enthusiastically on challenging, multidisciplinary projects. He applies analytical methods, numerical models, and scale tests to solve complex problems. In his role as project leader, Rick also maintains an overview of the project's finances, while always prioritizing the quality of the advice provided. Collaboration and a pleasant atmosphere, between colleagues and with clients alike, are central to his approach. He is actively involved in the entire research process, from the quotation phase to the final report.
In addition to projects in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, Rick has gained extensive experience in offshore energy-related research off the coast of Asia (Taiwan, South Korea, Japan) and the east coast of the US. His specialty is translating the extreme hydrodynamic conditions that can occur in these areas into boundary conditions in model research. The complex, non-linear interaction between waves and currents near the seabed motivates him the most. Project highlights include:
- Designing seabed protection for a wind farm off the coast of South Korea, which is characterized by a highly morphologically active seabed and severe hydrodynamic conditions.
- Gaining insight into ship-induced currents near the bottom of the Maas channel, for the purpose of determining the hydraulic load on CO₂ export cables.
- Determining the excavation potential of a battery placed on the seabed for energy storage.