Multi-terminal and Offshore Links Course
Online course of 300 h in multi-terminal and offshore links. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2016/1447 (HVDC), IEC 62747 and PSCAD. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Multi-terminal and Offshore Links Course — studying from Ireland
Ireland's energy sector is undergoing significant change, with a growing share of wind power, expanding grid infrastructure and investment in interconnection and storage. The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and Gas Networks Ireland manage major transmission and distribution assets, while EirGrid operates the national electricity transmission system. Engineers work on grid planning, renewable integration, network operation and energy system modelling. Regulation is provided by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, with national targets set by government climate and energy policy.
Fees for Ireland: €546 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee energy and network engineering recognition?
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities regulates electricity and gas markets in Ireland, and EirGrid and ESB Networks operate the transmission and distribution systems. Engineers Ireland sets professional engineering standards and chartership. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their recognition is for employers or the relevant body to determine.
Do Irish energy and utility employers consider private online engineering qualifications?
Irish utilities, grid operators and consultancies generally prioritise professional registration, relevant degrees and operational experience. A private online qualification may support your application as evidence of study, but how it is weighed is at each employer's discretion. We cannot guarantee any outcome, so ask prospective employers directly.
Can I study alongside a job, and does my employer need to fund it?
The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from home in Ireland with no travel and no student visa required. Plan for 1,900 hours on a master's, 800 on a postgraduate diploma or 300 on a specialist course. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer funding is possible but not required, so it is worth raising with your employer.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the topologies of multi-terminal DC networks.
Design control strategies based on voltage droop.
Evaluate DC switchgear and protection technologies.
Understand the connection of offshore wind farms.
Compare AC and DC connection alternatives.
Interpret the regulation of offshore hybrid assets.
Prepare a techno-economic study of an offshore network.
Who it's for
- HVDC network engineer wishing to specialise in Multi-terminal and Offshore Links.
- Offshore connection engineer wishing to specialise in Multi-terminal and Offshore Links.
- Protection engineer wishing to specialise in Multi-terminal and Offshore Links.
- Marine network planner wishing to specialise in Multi-terminal and Offshore Links.
- Offshore wind project manager wishing to specialise in Multi-terminal and Offshore Links.
- Transmission consultant wishing to specialise in Multi-terminal and Offshore Links.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter offshore wind energy.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1447 (HVDC)
- IEC 62747
- IEC 63291-1
- IEC 61400-1
- IEC 62895
- Regulation (EU) 2022/869 (TEN-E)
- Directive 2014/89/EU on maritime spatial planning
- CIGRE TB 533
6 modules · 300 h
1.1From point-to-point link to meshed network1.2Radial, ring and meshed topologies1.3Multi-terminal projects in China1.4Caithness-Moray link1.5European North Sea initiatives1.6Voltage standardisation1.7Interoperability between manufacturers1.8InterOPERA project1.9Technical and regulatory barriers1.10Case study: analysis of the Zhangbei project
2.1Master-slave control2.2Voltage droop control2.3Voltage margin2.4Power flow in DC networks2.5Secondary control and dispatch2.6DC-DC converters2.7DC power flow controllers2.8Stability of DC networks2.9Coordination of controls2.10Laboratory: load flow in a three-terminal network
3.1Faults in DC networks3.2Hybrid DC circuit breakers3.3Resonance-based mechanical breakers3.4Fault current limiters3.5Detection and selectivity3.6Cable protection3.7Partial and full clearance strategies3.8Coordination with converters3.9Breaker testing3.10Practical: simulation of fault clearance
4.1AC versus DC connection4.2Offshore converter platforms4.3TenneT 2 GW concepts4.4Grid-forming control in the wind farm4.5DC submarine cables4.6Cable installation and protection4.7Offshore operation and maintenance4.8Connection to onshore grids4.9Hybridisation with interconnectors4.10Case study: connection of a 2 GW wind farm
5.1Maritime spatial planning5.2European offshore renewables strategy5.3Offshore hybrid assets5.4Offshore tender zones5.5Marine environmental assessment5.6Electromagnetic fields and wildlife5.7Financing offshore networks5.8Supply chain and manufacturing risks5.9Levelised cost of transmission5.10Workshop: comparison of connection alternatives
6.1Definition of the offshore scenario6.2Topology and voltages6.3Control strategy6.4Protection scheme6.5Integration with onshore grids6.6Techno-economic assessment6.7DC network fault analysis6.8Regulatory framework for the hybrid asset6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PSCAD, EMTP, PowerFactory, MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real load-flow procedures on a multi-terminal network, DC fault-clearance simulation and comparison of offshore connection alternatives. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Analyse the topologies of multi-terminal DC networks.
Design control strategies based on voltage droop.
Evaluate DC switchgear and protection technologies.
Understand the connection of offshore wind farms.
Compare AC and DC connection alternatives.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses PSCAD, EMTP, PowerFactory, MATLAB/Simulink. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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