The team at Longitude shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans – delivering design and engineering solutions to de-risk and drive sustainability in oil & gas, maritime and renewable energy.

You may know Longitude – but do you know the people behind the engineering?

• Name: Espen Hansen
• Title: Principal Engineer, Offshore Wind Foundation Design
• Location: Oslo, Norway
• Hobbies: I really enjoy cooking, whether it’s perfecting recipes or taking on bigger projects. Last summer I ticked off a long-term goal by barbequing a whole pig on a DIY hog pit for a neighborhood summer party.
• Favourite Book: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. The beautiful language keeps me coming back for another read.

Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at Longitude.  What keeps you on your toes?

My day-to-day work combines project management, technical support to projects, proposal work, and continuously developing and improving our delivery model for offshore wind foundation design. I work closely with clients and colleagues in Longitude and across our sister companies, working in offshore wind – OWC and ABL.

My role puts me right at the center of what’s going on – from winning work through proposals to managing and executing projects using the delivery models we are building.

What keeps me on my toes is the pace and variety of the work. I’m often balancing technical, commercial, and delivery perspectives while working with multiple stakeholders. Switching between these roles and keeping everything aligned makes the job both challenging and very engaging.

What drew you to the industry and what keeps you passionate about it?

I think I found my way into engineering more by chance rather than as a clear plan. I always enjoyed STEM subjects at school and was drawn towards engineering at university, largely thanks to some inspiring professors.

Since graduating, I’ve worked as a structural engineer, and at some point I realised I wanted to apply that background in renewables. For me, there’s nothing more meaningful than contributing to a more sustainable future.

What keeps me passionate is very much the same. I believe in what we are working towards, but also in the people around me. I’m constantly working with highly skilled colleagues and clients, which keeps the work both challenging and rewarding.

Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?

I’m currently working as Package Manager for the monopile design on an offshore wind project. My role involves coordinating a multidisciplinary team across Longitude, OWC and ABL, and our strategic partners, while also contributing as a technical expert and acting as the main interface with the client.

What makes this project particularly interesting is that it sits at an early stage where key design decisions are still being shaped. We are balancing technical feasibility, cost, and practical execution, while dealing with site-specific challenges such as ice-induced loads and the resulting dynamic response of the structure.

That combination of complex engineering and real project impact is what makes it exciting. The work directly influences the overall design approach and helps the client reduce risk, engage the supply chain, and move the project forward towards key investment decisions.

With AR7 and future AR8 and 9 beckoning in an offshore wind reset in the UK – how can offshore wind design solutions get the edge in the race?

The significant capacity awarded in the AR7 and potentially AR8 auctions will be challenged by supply chain restraint in general and particularly for WTIV installation capacity and the extent of port facilities. Longitude will address these issues by applying in-depth operational experience from across our group, to assess logistics planning, supply chain capability, T&I strategies and cost assessments to reach feasible design solutions for offshore wind farms.

Beyond the work, what makes you tick outside of the office?

Outside of work, my kids are what keep me grounded. I really enjoy spending time with them, whether it’s goofing around, going sledding in the winter, or getting into a water fight in the summer. Seeing the world through their eyes is both great fun and very rewarding.