Offshore Wind Transmission Course (UK)

Price

Duration

2,360€
(Early bird 1,888€)

3-Day

Dates

2026 dates to be announced

Format

Course Status

In-Person

Open

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Offshore Wind Transmission Course (UK)

Explore the intricate world of offshore wind transmission in this comprehensive two-and-a-half day workshop with the opportunity to enter GE Vernova's Stafford, UK transmission facility. Gain a deep understanding of the electrical systems that connect offshore wind farms to onshore grids, including both High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) solutions, and explore transmission automation and simulation facilities, normally reserved only for customers of GE Vernova.

This course takes place from 8:30h until 17:00h GMT the first two days and 8:30h until 12:00h GMT the final day.
What's included: Course attendance, refreshments, lunch on Days 1 & 2, and a happy hour. Travel and accommodation costs are not included. A list of recommended hotels can be provided upon request.
Prerequisite: We recommend attendees have a strong technical background. A foundational understanding of basic electrical engineering principles will help participants gain the full benefit of this course.

Course Learning Objectives

Explain the role and challenges of offshore wind transmission systems, including environmental, technical, and regulatory considerations
Describe the fundamental components and functions of HVAC and HVDC technology, onshore and offshore substations, and key high-voltage equipment
Compare AC and HVDC transmission solutions in offshore wind, including pros and cons, converter technologies, and typical system configurations
Analyze power flow, voltage levels, load balancing, and grid code compliance strategies for integrating offshore wind with onshore grids
Identify the types, functions, and maintenance considerations of export and array cables and evaluate their importance in system reliability
Assess emerging technologies such as floating substations, DC breakers, and DC/DC converters and discuss their impact on future transmission systems
It was an invaluable experience. The course provided a comprehensive overview of the technical, regulatory, and financial aspects of offshore wind power transmission. The interactive format encouraged active participation and allowed for a deeper understanding of the material. What stood out to me was the depth of knowledge the instructors brought to the table — they shared real-world insights and case studies that highlighted challenges and solutions in the field.
Jude T.
Managing Principal Electrical Engineer, ABS

Who Should Attend

Electrical Engineers
Power Systems Professionals
️ Offshore Wind Developers
Project Managers
Regulators & Policymakers
Investors & Asset Owners
O&M Professionals

Course Curriculum

Day 1 HVAC Technology & Facility Tour
M1 Introduction to Offshore Wind Transmission
M2 Onshore Substation Design – HVAC Technology
Tour
Facility Tour 1 - GE Vernova Stafford
HVDC Valve facility & Grid Automation facility
Day 2 HVDC Technology & Facility Tour
M3 Offshore Substation Design – HVDC Technology
M4 Transmission
Tour
Facility Tour 2 - GE Vernova Stafford
HVDC RTDS Simulation facility & Grid Automation Simulation facility
Day 3 Cables & Emerging Technologies (Half Day)
M5 Export and Array Cables
M6 Trending Technology
The course outline is subject to change. A detailed agenda will be shared after enrollment.

About the GE Vernova Stafford Facility

Exports to 100+ countries
HVDC & HV transformer specialists
Manufacturing since 1903
From Stafford, GE Vernova exports to customers in over 100 countries. The GE Grid Solutions business specializes in grid technologies that support the energy transition — meeting the growing demand for power, upgrading and digitizing aging infrastructure, and integrating renewables as part of a diversified energy mix. The site is renowned for its expertise in HVDC and large complex power transformers, and serves as a key hub for upskilling and training on offshore wind and HV products. GE Vernova's Grid Automation activity integrates cutting-edge software, hardware, and communication technologies to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of electrical grid infrastructure. There is a strong history of manufacturing and pioneering R&D in Stafford, dating back to 1903 when the very first factory was inaugurated.
Course Completion Certificate
Upon completing at least 50% of the course and achieving a minimum passing score of 50% on a post-course assessment, participants will receive a course certificate valid for three years. This certificate verifies that the essential learning outcomes of the course have been met.

Course Instructors

Hongbiao Song
Hongbiao Song
Global Technical Tender Leader for Offshore Wind, GE Vernova (Grid Solutions)
Hongbiao holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He worked at Bechtel from 2006 to 2014 as a Senior Electrical Engineer on large international Oil & Gas projects including LNG, refineries, and petrochemical plants. He joined GE in 2014 in multiple technical and commercial roles across power generation, utilities, and offshore wind. He has led innovative R&D programs including Trailer Mounted HV Substation, Containerized HV Substation, and Floating Offshore Substation. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a CIGRE B4 Member for the US National Committee.
Carl Barker
Carl Barker
Consulting Engineer, GE Vernova (Grid Solutions)
Carl holds a BEng from Staffordshire Polytechnic and an MSc from Bath University. He joined GE Vernova's Grid Solutions in Stafford, UK in 1989, initially working on the design and development of individual HVDC and SVC projects before becoming System Design Manager responsible for all technical aspects of HVDC projects. He is currently a Consulting Engineer providing technical support across the business. Carl is a Chartered Engineer, a member of the IET, a Senior Member of IEEE, a Distinguished Member of CIGRE B4, and an invited lecturer at several universities.
Maxime Toulotte
Maxime Toulotte
Markets & New Solutions Director – Power Transmission, Nexans
Maxime is responsible for the commercialization of innovations, client engagement prior to tendering, business intelligence, and marketing within Nexans' Power Transmission business group. He has experience in sales and tendering for large turnkey HV submarine cable projects and study management. Prior to this role, he served as Lead and Tender Engineer for the supply of HV and MV submarine composite cables and related accessories for offshore wind and utility cable projects. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering.
Sameer Singhal
Sameer Singhal
HVDC Product Manager, GE Vernova (Grid Solutions)
Sameer holds a BTech and MTech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi. He joined GE Vernova's Grid Solutions in Stafford, UK in 2015, initially working on intellectual property management and patent engineering. He is currently a Solution Owner for VSC HVDC 2GW Bipole projects with end-to-end accountability for the competitiveness of 2GW Bipole solutions across the full lifecycle of HVDC converter stations.
As an IACET Accredited Provider, Offshore Wind Academy offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.

For all relevant student information on this course, such as the refund and cancellation, data protection policies, and more, please see the Student Info page below.

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