At Enercon (onshore) and Siemens Gamesa (offshore), participants experienced the manufacturing of huge wind turbines up close – including impressive production halls and logistical processes.

Offshore-generated electricity is mostly transported to shore via submarine cables. The visit to the Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke in Nordenham provided an exciting insight into the production of such high-performance submarine and communication cables, some of which are used intercontinentally at great depths

The importance of powerful transformers and grid filters was demonstrated during the visit to BLOCK in Verden. There, it was demonstrated how voltage levels are adjusted and grid fluctuations stabilised in substations.
Such substations were also visited at thedistribution grid operators EWE and Wesernetz, as well as the transmission grid operator TenneT. A special opportunity was provided during the visit to the HVDC land station in Emden: since the planned commissioning is scheduled for later in the year, it was possible to explore areas that are not accessible during regular operation.

A visit to a battery storage facility in Varel offered an insight into primary grid control – the second-by-second storage and retrieval of energy.

Energy consumption also plays a key role in efficiency and sustainability. At the Bremerhaven container terminal and in the Bremer Tabakquartier – a showcase project for energy-efficient living and working – it became clear how well-thought-out infrastructure can contribute to the energy transition.
At OHB, one of the largest manufacturers of satellite technology, the excursion group learnt how energy and communication technology are efficiently managed in a confined space and under strict framework conditions.

The excursion not only provided a variety ofinsights into current technologies and company structures, but also numerous opportunities for professional exchange and personal conversations. Students, lecturers, and the companies visited all benefited equally from this practical week.

A successful contribution to linking theory and practice – and perhaps an inspiration for the participants’ future careers.