Postgraduate Diploma in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout. 8 modules covering IEC 61400-1 (wind turbine design requirements), IEC 61400-12-1 (power curve) and WindPRO. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout — 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$2,160 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
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.
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
Characterise the wind resource of a site.
Clean and correlate long-term wind data.
Apply linear and CFD models to flow over terrain.
Quantify wake effect losses.
Select wind turbine positions using technical and environmental criteria.
Optimise the farm layout to maximise output.
Estimate energy production and its uncertainty.
Who it's for
- Wind resource engineer who wishes to specialise in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout.
- Micrositing analyst who wishes to specialise in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout.
- Energy assessment engineer who wishes to specialise in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout.
- Wind farm developer who wishes to specialise in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout.
- Wind energy meteorologist who wishes to specialise in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout.
- Energy production consultant who wishes to specialise in Wind Micrositing, Wake and Layout.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter the wind energy sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61400-1 (wind turbine design requirements)
- IEC 61400-12-1 (power curve)
- IEC 61400-50-1 (wind measurement)
- IEC 61400-50-2 (wind remote sensing)
- MEASNET procedure for anemometer calibration
- Spanish Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Atmospheric boundary layer1.2Vertical profile: logarithmic and power law1.3Weibull distribution1.4Wind rose and directionality1.5Turbulence and turbulence intensity1.6Atmospheric stability1.7Measurement with masts and anemometers1.8Lidar and sodar1.9IEC 61400-12-1 standard1.10Workshop: analysis of a one-year measurement campaign
2.1Data quality control2.2Long-term correlation (MCP)2.3Reanalysis sources: ERA5 and MERRA-22.4Vertical extrapolation2.5Interannual variability2.6Resource uncertainty2.7Tools: Windographer2.8Fitting the distribution curve2.9Resource report2.10Practical: MCP correlation with reanalysis data
3.1Linear models such as WAsP3.2Orography and terrain roughness3.3CFD models for complex terrain3.4WindSim and Meteodyn tools3.5WRF mesoscale models3.6Cross-validation between masts3.7Resource maps3.8Effects of obstacles and forests3.9Selecting the appropriate model3.10Laboratory: resource map with WAsP
4.1Physics of a wind turbine wake4.2Jensen (Park) model4.3Bastankhah and Gaussian models4.4Deep-array wake models for large farms4.5Blockage losses4.6Added turbulence from wakes4.7Wakes between neighbouring farms4.8Validation with SCADA data4.9Tools: PyWake and FLORIS4.10Laboratory: calculating wake losses with PyWake
5.1Technical site constraints5.2Spacing between wind turbines5.3Environmental and noise constraints5.4Shadow flicker5.5Access roads and hardstands5.6Turbine selection according to IEC 61400-15.7Wind classes and site suitability5.8Loads in complex terrain5.9Site visits and verification5.10Practical: wind turbine class suitability analysis
6.1Objective function: production, LCOE or NPV6.2Optimisation with heuristic algorithms6.3Genetic algorithms and gradient methods6.4Constrained optimisation6.5Wake control: wake steering6.6Joint optimisation of layout and cabling6.7Optimisation tools6.8Sensitivity analysis6.9Comparison of alternatives6.10Laboratory: layout optimisation with TOPFARM
7.1Gross and net production7.2Loss categories7.3Availability and degradation7.4Electrical and power curve losses7.5Curtailment and restrictions7.6Quantifying uncertainty7.7P50, P75 and P907.8Bankable production report7.9Post-operation validation7.10Case study: review of an energy production assessment
8.1Site analysis8.2Wind data processing8.3Flow modelling8.4Turbine selection8.5Layout design and optimisation8.6Wake and production calculation8.7Uncertainty analysis8.8Recommendations report8.9Dissertation and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is WindPRO, WAsP, WindSim, Openwind, Python (PyWake), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work covers real procedures for analysing wind measurement campaigns, CFD modelling of complex terrain and wind farm layout optimisation. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus a final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Characterise the wind resource of a site.
Clean and correlate long-term wind data.
Apply linear and CFD models to flow over terrain.
Quantify wake effect losses.
Select wind turbine positions using technical and environmental criteria.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with WindPRO, WAsP, WindSim, Openwind, Python (PyWake). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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