As power grids worldwide shift away from fossil fuels, wind and marine energy have moved from niche pilot projects to mainstream additions to the energy mix — and with that shift comes a real shortage of engineers who understand both the technology and the market around it.

Delivered by a team of internationally experienced energy engineers, this short training course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy was built to close exactly that gap. It covers the fundamentals of marine energy, the opportunities and skill sets needed in the wave and tidal sector, and the practical requirements of building a commercial marine energy project — from technology and business development to policy frameworks and environmental consenting — while also looking ahead to the smart grids, sensors, big data and storage systems reshaping the skills this sector will demand.

Course Benefits

• Understand the principles and design of marine and wind energy systems.
• See how tidal, wave and wind sources integrate into the power grid.
• Explore the technical and environmental challenges of these sources and their place in the global energy mix.
• Build a grounding in wind energy theory, technology and physical principles.
• Cover emissions testing, pollution control, mechanical optimisation and related environmental health and safety practices.

Who Should Attend

• Anyone with basic knowledge of the marine or maritime industry, tailored to different experience levels.
• Early-stage researchers, postgraduate students and staff from educational institutions.
• Graduate engineers, physical science graduates and energy industry professionals.

Module 1: Why Marine and Wind Energy Matter Now

• Fundamentals and key characteristics of wind, solar PV, hydro, wave and tidal energy
• Building a commercial marine energy project: technology, business development, policy and environmental consenting

Module 2: Inside the Wind Turbine and Wind Farm

• Principle of operation, turbine types and power train (gearbox, generator, converter)
• Wind farm design objectives and electrical collector (array) types
• Wake and electrical losses, and the basics of wind farm control

Module 3: Connecting to the Grid, From Wind to Solar

• Controls that support power grid operation
• Solar PV fundamentals: module design, maximum power point tracking, power electronic interfaces

Module 4: The Next Wave – Smart Grids, Sensors and Storage

• How smart grids and smart sensors are reshaping the sector
• The growing role of big data in energy operations
• Energy storage systems and the skills they demand