Course in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals
Online 300 h course in wave and tidal energy: technical fundamentals. 6 modules covering IEC TS 62600-101 Wave energy resource assessment and characterisation, IEC TS 62600-201 Tidal current resource assessment and characterisation, and SWAN. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals — studying from the United Kingdom
Naval and offshore engineering is a significant sector in the United Kingdom, with shipbuilding and naval programmes on the Clyde, in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness and Rosyth, and offshore energy activity in Aberdeen and the North Sea. Companies such as BAE Systems Maritime, Babcock and offshore service providers employ engineers in design, construction and maintenance. Sports nautical engineering, including yacht design and marine leisure, is concentrated in the Solent and South Coast. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulates shipping safety, and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects supports professional standards.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £664 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies relate to naval and marine engineering, and does SEIUM training count towards them?
Key UK bodies include the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Maritime qualifications are often regulated through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for certificates of competency. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so any recognition would be decided by them separately.
Will UK offshore, naval or marine employers value a private online engineering qualification?
Employers in these sectors often prioritise certified competencies, sea-going experience and regulatory certificates. A private qualification may support your application where it shows relevant technical depth, but it does not replace statutory requirements. Acceptance is for each employer to decide, so consider how the qualification complements your existing certifications.
Can I study this online from the UK alongside offshore rotations, and is language support available?
Online study can be flexible, but rotation patterns make scheduling important, so plan around your time at sea or on site. Programmes are taught entirely in English, and each learner is assigned a technical tutor. No visa is required to study from within the UK. 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
Explain the origin and characterisation of the wave and tidal resource.
Classify wave energy technologies according to their energy capture principle.
Describe barrage and tidal current energy technologies.
Analyse power take-off systems and grid connection.
Estimate the annual output of a device from the available resource.
Evaluate the maturity, costs and environmental effects of these technologies.
Outline a preliminary marine energy extraction project.
Who it's for
- Marine energy engineer looking to specialise in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals.
- Ocean resource analyst looking to specialise in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals.
- Technician at marine test centres looking to specialise in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals.
- Renewable projects developer looking to specialise in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals.
- Blue energy consultant looking to specialise in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals.
- Ocean energy researcher looking to specialise in Wave and Tidal Energy: Technical Fundamentals.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the marine renewable energy sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC TS 62600-101 Wave energy resource assessment and characterisation
- IEC TS 62600-201 Tidal current resource assessment and characterisation
- IEC TS 62600-100 Electrical performance assessment of wave energy converters
- IEC TS 62600-200 Electrical performance assessment of tidal current converters
- IEC TS 62600-2 Design requirements for marine energy systems
- DNV-ST-0164 Tidal turbines
- Directive 2014/89/EU establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Origin of waves and tides1.2Wave power per metre of wave front1.3Harmonic components of the tide1.4Tidal currents in straits and channels1.5Thermal and salinity gradients1.6Global resource atlases1.7Seasonal variability and predictability1.8Resource on the European Atlantic coast1.9Practical limitations of exploitation1.10Case study: wave resource on the Cantabrian coast
2.1Oscillating water column2.2Point absorbers2.3Attenuators and overtopping devices2.4Oscillating flap converters2.5Submerged differential pressure devices2.6Power take-off systems2.7Wells and impulse turbines2.8Mutriku and Pelamis experiences2.9Lessons from technological failures2.10Workshop: comparing converters using a power matrix
3.1Tidal barrages and lagoons3.2La Rance power station3.3Horizontal-axis tidal current turbines3.4Vertical-axis and shrouded turbines3.5Subsea tidal kites3.6Fixed and floating support structures3.7MeyGen project and the EMEC centre3.8Blockage effect in arrays3.9Cavitation and blade loads3.10Laboratory: power curve of a tidal current turbine
4.1Linear and rotary generators4.2Hydraulic power take-off systems4.3Power electronics and converters4.4Device absorption control4.5Subsea export cables4.6Grid connection and power quality4.7Storage and power smoothing4.8Microgrids in island systems4.9Hybridisation with offshore wind4.10Practice: annual output of a device
5.1Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)5.2Test scales and stages5.3BiMEP and EMEC test centres5.4Levelised cost of energy5.5European support instruments5.6Environmental effects of devices5.7Permitting and maritime spatial planning5.8Social acceptance and competing uses5.9Survival in storms5.10Case study: LCOE of a pilot array
6.1Site selection6.2Resource characterisation6.3Technology selection6.4Output estimation6.5Electrical grid connection6.6Preliminary environmental assessment6.7Economic analysis of the project6.8Development roadmap6.9Report 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. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SWAN, Delft3D, WEC-Sim, MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practicals cover real procedures for characterising the wave resource at a site, estimating output with power matrices, and economic evaluation of a pilot array. Assessment is continuous across each 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.
Explain the origin and characterisation of the wave and tidal resource.
Classify wave energy technologies according to their energy capture principle.
Describe barrage and tidal current energy technologies.
Analyse power take-off systems and grid connection.
Estimate the annual output of a device from the available resource.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient 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 totals 300 hours, 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 SWAN, Delft3D, WEC-Sim and MATLAB. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma on 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 are credited towards the higher-level programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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