Master'sEnergy and Networks Applications open

Master’s in Grid Converter Engineering for Networks and Renewables

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in grid and renewable converter engineering, structured in 12 modules covering photovoltaic inverters, wind converters, grid-side control, grid forming, plant control, power quality, stability, modelling and RfG/NTS compliance, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h

ModeOnline

LanguageEnglish

Start datesSet by the faculty

AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

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Master’s in Grid Converter Engineering for Networks and Renewables — studying from New Zealand

New Zealand's energy sector is distinctive for its high share of renewable generation, drawn from hydroelectric, geothermal and wind resources. Transpower operates the national grid, while distribution networks are run by regional lines companies, and the Electricity Authority regulates the wholesale and retail markets. Energy engineers are employed across generation, transmission, distribution and retail, with demand growing as the country works towards its renewable electricity goals.

Fees for New Zealand: NZ$11,700 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in New Zealand

Electricity Authority
Transpower New Zealand
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)

Typical roles

Power Systems Engineer
Network Planning Engineer
Grid Engineer
Energy Project Engineer

Questions from New Zealand

What professional recognition applies to energy and network engineers in New Zealand?

Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is widely used in the energy sector. The Electricity Authority oversees the electricity market, and the Electricity Engineers' Association is an industry body. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.

Who employs energy and network engineers in New Zealand?

Major employers include electricity lines companies, generators, transmission operators, gas network businesses and consultancies. Roles often value registration, field experience and knowledge of New Zealand's grid and regulation. A private qualification may support your CV, but it does not guarantee employment or a particular career outcome.

Can I study from New Zealand with a full-time job, and does an employer need to fund it?

Yes. The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from New Zealand without a student visa. You will have an assigned technical tutor and complete a final project. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's programmes 1,900. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Analyse the structure of photovoltaic inverters and wind converters.

Design the control of grid-connected converters.

Implement grid-forming functions.

Tune power plant controllers.

Assess the power quality of converter-based plants.

Analyse the stability of inverter-dominated systems.

Prepare grid code compliance certification.

Profile

Who it's for

Power converter engineers
Renewable plant control engineers
Grid compliance certification engineers
Grid connection study specialists
Inverter R&D engineers
Power quality engineers
Engineering or science graduates looking to move into renewable generation

Standards & tools

What you'll work with

Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG)
Technical Standard for Compliance Supervision (NTS SEPE v2.1)
IEC 62109-1/-2 (safety of photovoltaic power converters)
IEC 61400-21-1 (measurement of electrical characteristics of wind turbines)
IEC 61400-27-1 (electrical simulation models for wind power generation)
IEC 61727 (photovoltaic systems utility interface)
IEC 61683 (efficiency of power conditioners)
UNE 217002 (DC injection tests on inverters)
PLECS
MATLAB/Simulink
PSCAD/EMTDC
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
Typhoon HIL

Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

1.1Inverter-based generation
1.2Classification of converters by application
1.3Photovoltaic conversion chain
1.4Wind conversion chain
1.5Converters for storage
1.6Technical connection requirements
1.7Manufacturers and market
1.8Performance indicators
1.9Unit power trends
1.10Case study: comparison of photovoltaic inverter datasheets

2.1Central, string and micro-inverters
2.2MPPT tracking algorithms
2.3Transformerless topologies
2.4Leakage current and insulation
2.5European and CEC efficiency
2.61500 V system voltage
2.7DC/AC power ratio
2.8Night-time operation for reactive power
2.9Inverter monitoring
2.10Lab: perturb-and-observe MPPT algorithm in Simulink

3.1Type 3 wind turbines with DFIG
3.2Type 4 wind turbines with full converter
3.3Full-power back-to-back converters
3.4Machine-side control
3.5Grid-side control
3.6Braking chopper
3.7Fault ride-through in wind
3.8Medium-voltage converters
3.9Reliability in offshore wind
3.10Practical: control of a back-to-back converter

4.1Grid synchronisation
4.2Current control
4.3Power control
4.4Operation with harmonics and unbalance
4.5Response to voltage dips
4.6Reactive current injection
4.7Current limiting
4.8DC voltage control
4.9Robustness in weak grids
4.10Lab: inverter response to an unbalanced dip

5.1Principles of grid forming
5.2Virtual synchronous machine
5.3Emulated inertial response
5.4Oscillation damping
5.5Island operation
5.6European system operator requirements
5.7Grid forming in wind
5.8Grid forming in photovoltaics with storage
5.9Capability validation
5.10Practical: synthetic inertia in a solar plant with storage

6.1Power plant controller
6.2Active power control
6.3Voltage and power factor control
6.4Frequency response
6.5Power ramps
6.6Inverter coordination
6.7Communications with the system operator
6.8Plant SCADA
6.9Plant control tests
6.10Lab: tuning a power plant controller

7.1Harmonic emission from inverters
7.2Harmonic interaction between inverters
7.3Resonances in plants
7.4Plant harmonic filters
7.5Flicker and voltage fluctuations
7.6Phase unbalance
7.7Power quality measurements
7.8Regulatory emission limits
7.9Connection studies
7.10Case study: harmonic study of a photovoltaic plant

8.1Small-signal stability
8.2Impedance-based methods
8.3Control interactions
8.4Subsynchronous oscillations with converters
8.5Grid strength
8.6Transient stability with inverters
8.7Low-inertia scenarios
8.8EMT connection studies
8.9Mitigation of instabilities
8.10Lab: impedance-based stability analysis

9.1Switched inverter models
9.2Average plant models
9.3Generic RMS models
9.4IEC 61400-27 models
9.5WECC models for photovoltaics
9.6Validation against tests
9.7Black-box models
9.8Real-time simulation
9.9Model management
9.10Practical: validation of a generic model against tests

10.1RfG network code
10.2NTS technical supervision standard
10.3Equipment certificates
10.4Voltage dip tests
10.5Compliance simulations
10.6Plant certification
10.7Operational notification procedure
10.8Accredited certification bodies
10.9Common mistakes in certification
10.10Workshop: compliance file for a power generating module

11.1Converter thermal design
11.2Passive components and capacitors
11.3Inverter electromagnetic compatibility
11.4Component reliability
11.5Failure mode analysis
11.6Inverter maintenance
11.7Predictive fleet monitoring
11.8Cybersecurity of connected inverters
11.9End of life and recycling
11.10Case study: failure analysis of an inverter fleet

12.1Selection of the renewable application
12.2Converter design
12.3Control strategy
12.4Modelling and simulation
12.5Grid studies
12.6Compliance assessment
12.7Reliability analysis
12.8Conclusions and future work
12.9Master's Thesis report
12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel

Methodology, software & labs

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: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD/EMTDC, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Typhoon HIL, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for inverter simulation under voltage dips, harmonic studies of renewable plants and model validation against tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG), Technical Standard for Compliance Supervision (NTS SEPE v2.1), IEC 62109-1/-2 (safety of photovoltaic power converters), IEC 61400-21-1 (measurement of electrical characteristics of wind turbines), IEC 61400-27-1 (electrical simulation models for wind power generation), IEC 61727 (photovoltaic systems utility interface), IEC 61683 (efficiency of power conditioners), UNE 217002 (DC injection tests on inverters).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.

Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG), NTS SEPE v2.1 and IEC 62109-1/-2 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.

Industry software:PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD/EMTDC, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Typhoon HIL, in free, academic or evaluation versions.

Master's Thesis with defence:a complete converter project for a renewable application, from converter design and control strategy to grid studies, compliance assessment and reliability analysis, defended before a panel.

Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.

Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

MPPT and grid-side control

Implement an MPPT algorithm and analyse the inverter response to an unbalanced dip.

Grid forming capability

Provide synthetic inertia in a solar plant with storage using grid-forming control.

Plant controller and harmonics

Tune a power plant controller and carry out the harmonic study of a PV plant.

Stability and model validation

Analyse impedance-based stability and validate a generic model against tests.

Master's Thesis

A complete grid converter project with design, control, grid studies and compliance assessment, defended before a panel.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Power Converter EngineerRenewable Plant Control EngineerGrid Compliance Certification EngineerGrid Connection Study SpecialistInverter R&D EngineerPower Quality Engineer

Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, PSCAD/EMTDC, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and Typhoon HIL, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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