Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations
This professional diploma prepares you to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems on board vessels, from yachts to merchant ships. You will study the regulatory context of maritime decarbonisation, marine solar photovoltaics, wind-assisted propulsion and wind generation, hydro-generation and energy recovery, battery energy storage, onboard microgrids and power converters, installation safety and technical rules, and the maintenance and economic assessment of hybrid projects.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations?
This professional diploma prepares you to turn a vessel's energy system into a cleaner, more efficient one by adding renewable sources. You will learn how IMO, MARPOL Annex VI, EEXI and CII shape the energy transition, how to draw up an onboard energy balance and assess the feasibility of a retrofit, how to size and install marinised solar panels with MPPT controllers, how wind turbines, rotor sails, wingsails and kites contribute to propulsion and generation, how hydro-generators, shaft generators and waste heat recovery work, how LFP and NMC battery banks, BMS and thermal runaway protection are designed, and how inverters, DC/DC converters and energy management systems integrate everything into an onboard microgrid.
What sets this professional diploma apart: a hands-on installation focus, covering sizing, mounting, wiring, sealing and commissioning on board; the full range of onboard renewables, from solar and wind to hydro-generation and energy recovery; in-depth coverage of battery safety, thermal runaway and classification society requirements; microgrid integration with inverters, converters, EMS and hybridisation with diesel generators; risk analysis with HAZID and HAZOP and insulation and earthing tests; and an economic view of CAPEX, OPEX and return on investment to build a complete hybridisation project.
Program highlights
- Hands-on installation focus: sizing, mounting, wiring, sealing and commissioning.
- Full range of renewables: solar PV, wind, hydro-generation and energy recovery.
- Battery safety: LFP and NMC chemistries, BMS, thermal runaway and class rules.
- Microgrid integration: inverters, DC/DC converters, EMS and diesel hybridisation.
- Installation safety: HAZID/HAZOP, IP ratings, insulation and earthing tests.
- Economic assessment: CAPEX, OPEX and return on investment of hybrid projects.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of renewable energy in the maritime sector
- 1.1. The naval energy context and decarbonisation of shipping
- 1.2. International regulatory frameworks: IMO, MARPOL and Annex VI
- 1.3. Potential for integrating clean energy on vessels
- 1.4. Naval architecture principles adapted to renewable systems
- 1.5. Onboard energy balance and critical load profile
- 1.6. Marine energy efficiency and emission metrics (EEXI and CII)
- 1.7. Technical, spatial and economic feasibility of retrofits
- 1.8. Renewable potential on different types of vessel
Marine solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
- 2.1. Types of solar photovoltaic technology for marine use
- 2.2. Performance of marinised panels against corrosion and salinity
- 2.3. Integration into decks, superstructures and sails
- 2.4. MPPT charge controllers and regulators for marine environments
- 2.5. Calculating dynamic shading from rigging and vessel motion
- 2.6. Solar cabling, watertight connectors and IEC-compliant installations
- 2.7. Operation and maintenance of photovoltaic arrays at sea
- 2.8. MPPT regulators
Wind-assisted propulsion and wind generation systems
- 3.1. Principles of wind energy applied to navigation
- 3.2. Vertical and horizontal axis micro wind turbines for vessels
- 3.3. Wind-assisted propulsion systems: suction wings and Flettner rotors
- 3.4. Towing kites for large ships
- 3.5. Integrating aerodynamic loads into the vessel's stability
- 3.6. Automated control systems to make the most of the wind
- 3.7. Maintenance and fault prevention in marine wind mechanisms
- 3.8. Rotor sails and wind generators
Hydrokinetic generation and energy recovery
- 4.1. Hydro-generation from the hull moving through the water
- 4.2. Shaft generators operated in regenerative mode
- 4.3. Waste heat recovery (WHR) systems in engines
- 4.4. Portable and hull-mounted hydrokinetic turbines for use at anchor
- 4.5. Hydrodynamic conversion efficiency and additional drag
- 4.6. Electronic integration of hydrokinetic sources into the main system
- 4.7. Inspection and cleaning of submerged generation systems
- 4.8. Hydro-generators on sailing yachts
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) on board
- 5.1. Battery chemistries for marine use: LFP, NMC and solid-state
- 5.2. Designing and installing battery banks in shipboard spaces
- 5.3. Battery management systems (BMS) and industrial communication
- 5.4. Ventilation, climate control and safety in battery rooms
- 5.5. Preventing and mitigating thermal runaway
- 5.6. Charging and discharging strategies and extending cycle life
- 5.7. Classification society requirements for marine batteries
- 5.8. Lithium batteries and BMS
Electrical integration, microgrids and converters
- 6.1. Architecture of isolated microgrids on vessels
- 6.2. Marine inverters, integrated chargers and DC/DC converters
- 6.3. Onboard energy management systems (EMS)
- 6.4. Hybridising renewable sources with diesel generators
- 6.5. Advanced electrical protection and fault interruption
- 6.6. Power quality, harmonic filtering and frequency stability
- 6.7. Synchronization protocols and automatic connection of sources
- 6.8. Inverters and chargers
Installation, safety and naval technical rules
- 7.1. Weight distribution criteria and center of gravity of equipment
- 7.2. IP (Ingress Protection) ratings on deck
- 7.3. Structural fixing methods that preserve watertightness
- 7.4. Risk analysis (HAZID/HAZOP) in hybrid installations
- 7.5. Dedicated fire-extinguishing systems for energy spaces
- 7.6. Insulation, continuity and marine earthing tests
- 7.7. Commissioning protocols and sea trials
- 7.8. Certification of installations
Maintenance, monitoring and hybrid projects
- 8.1. Preventive and predictive maintenance of renewable installations
- 8.2. Remote monitoring and IoT telemetry of energy production
- 8.3. Fault diagnosis in distribution busbars and converters
- 8.4. Storage and integration of green hydrogen on board
- 8.5. Marine spare parts management and port logistics
- 8.6. Cost analysis (CAPEX/OPEX) and energy return on investment
- 8.7. Budgets and return on investment
- 8.8. Drawing up a complete hybridisation project for a ship
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Onboard Renewable Energy Installations
Vessels of all sizes, from sailing yachts and motor boats to merchant ships, with solutions adapted to each one.
It focuses specifically on adding renewable sources to vessels: solar, wind, hydro-generation and energy recovery, together with the batteries and microgrid needed to integrate them.
Yes. A full module deals with battery chemistries, BMS, ventilation, thermal runaway prevention and classification society requirements.
Yes. You study rotor sails, suction wings and towing kites, as well as small wind turbines for power generation.
Yes. The last module covers CAPEX, OPEX, budgets and return on investment, and ends with a complete hybridisation project for a ship.
Yes. Basic knowledge of electricity, electronics and the principles of solar and wind energy is recommended.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Marine energy
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at electrical and mechanical engineers, naval architects and yacht designers, maintenance and operations technicians, project supervisors and fleet managers, and recent graduates in related engineering fields. A technical qualification in electricity, electronics, renewable energy or a similar field, or demonstrable professional experience in installing and maintaining electrical or electronic systems, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of solar and wind energy.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.