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-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 will take place from 8.30h until 17h GMT the first two days and 8.30h until 12h GMT the final day.
The price of this course includes the course attendance, refreshments, lunch on days 1 & 2, and a happy hour. The price does not include other related travel & accommodation costs. A list of hotels can be provided upon request.
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 (e.g., floating substations, DC breakers, DC/DC converters), and discuss their impact on future offshore wind transmission systems.
What Attendees Think:
“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 in the course 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. ABS, Managing Principal Electrical Engineer
Who Should Attend:
This course is ideal for professionals working in the offshore wind industry with high engineering competencies including engineers and technicians, regulatory and compliance specialist, grid operators and utility professionals, academics and researchers, and consultants and advisors. Renewable energy developers, energy analysts and economists, and engineering project members will also benefit.
As a prerequisite, we recommend that 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 Outline
Day 1
Module 1: Introduction to Offshore Wind Transmission
– Role of Transmission in Offshore Wind Projects
– Key Challenges and Considerations in Offshore Wind Transmission
– Regulatory and Environmental Aspects
Module 2: Onshore Substation Design – HVAC Technology
– Fundamentals of Onshore and Offshore Substations
– Equipment and Components
– Interconnection with the Grid
– Control and Protection Systems (Automation)
– Project System Studies
– Case Studies and Best Practices
FACILITY TOUR 1
– HVDC Valve facility
– Grid Automation facility
Day 2
Module 3: Offshore Substation Design – HVDC Technology
– Fundamentals of HVDC Technology
– Equipment and Components
– Considerations for Onshore Substations, Interconnection with the onshore Grid
– Considerations for and Offshore Substation Platform and Offshore windfarm
– Control and Protection Systems
– Project System Studies
– Case Studies and Best Practices
Module 4: Transmission
– Power Flow within an Offshore Wind Farm
– Voltage Levels and Load Balancing
– Grid Connection Strategies
– Integration with Onshore Grids
– Grid Codes and Compliance
FACILITY TOUR 2
– HVDC RTDS Simulation facility
– Grid Automation Simulation facility
Day 3
Module 5: Export and Array Cable
– Types of Export and Array Cables
– Cable Selection Criteria
– Cable Monitoring, Protection and Maintenance
Module 6: Trending Technology
– Case Studies on Technological Innovations
– DC Grids, Floating Substations, DC Breakers, DC/DC Converters
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. While not mandatory, this certification is currently undergoing an accreditation process to further enhance its value, allowing it to be used for job applications, promotions, and professional license renewals, such as the PE (Professional Engineer) license.
Course Instructors
Hongbiao Song
Global Technical Tender Leader for Offshore Wind
GE Vernova (Grid Solutions)
Hongbiao Song graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, USA with Ph. D degree in Electrical Engineering in Dec 2006. He worked in Bechtel between Oct 2006 and Jan 2014 as Senior Electrical Engineer involving in many large international and US Oil & Gas (O&G) projects such as LNG, refineries, petrochemical, gasification, pipelines, etc. He worked in GE since Jan 2014 with multiple technical and commercial roles involving large international and US projects such as power generation, utilities, O&G, O&G electrification, offshore wind. He had extensive system domain and equipment domain knowledge so he can lead and coordinate with GE internal teams and external partners from different regions and different organizations to win and execute large projects. He led multiple innovative R&D programs in GE such as Trailer Mounted HV Substation, Containerized HV Substation, Fast Power HV Substation Standardization, Floating Offshore Substation. Hongbiao is currently Global Technical Tender Leader for Offshore Wind in GE Vernova, living in Houston, Texas. He is also a Senior Member of IEEE, Cigre B4 Member for the US National Committee, and is active on Cigre B4.98 working group.
Carl Baker
Consulting Engineer
GE Vernova (Grid Solutions)
Carl Barker holds a B.Eng from Staffordshire Polytechnic and a M.Sc. from Bath University in the UK. 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 then becoming System Design Manager, responsible for all technical aspects of HVDC projects. He is, at present, a Consulting Engineer within the business providing technical support across many activities.
Carl is a Chartered Engineer in the UK and a member of the IET (UK), a Senior Member of the IEEE, a distinguished Member of CIGRE B4, and is an invited lecturer at a number of universities.
Maxime Toulotte
Markets & New Solutions Director - Power Transmission
Nexans
Maxime Toulotte is working as Markets & New Solutions Director for the Power Transmission business group in Nexans. He is responsible for the commercialization of innovations, Client engagement prior tendering, business intelligence and marketing. He has experience in Sales & Tendering for large turnkey HV submarine cable projects, and study management. Prior to that he was Lead and Tender Engineer for the supply of HV and MV submarine composite cables and related accessories for offshore wind power projects and utility cable projects.
He holds a MSc in Electrical Engineering.
Sameer Singhal
HVDC Product Manager GE Vernova (Grid Solutions)
Sameer Singhal holds a B.Tech and M.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi in India. He joined GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions in Stafford, UK in 2015, initially working on the intellectual property management and patent engineering. He is, at present, a Solution Owner for VSC HVDC 2GW Bipole projects and has end-to-end accountability for the competitiveness of 2GW Bipole solutions across the full lifecycle of HVDC converter stations.
About the GE Vernova Stafford Facility
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 in meeting the growing demand for power, upgrading and digitizing ageing 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, plus 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, all the way back to 1903 when the very first factory was inaugurated.
The course outline is subject to change and a detailed agenda will be shared after enrollment.
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.