Jun 24, 2026
2026 Pentecost Field Trip on Electrical Power Engineering – Great Interest in Gaining Insights into Work on the Energy Transition
From May 26 to 29, 2026, the Department of Electrical Power Engineering at TU Dresden, in collaboration with the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and under the direction of Prof. Maria Kosse, Prof. Martin Wolter, and Prof. Stefan Kornhuber, with financial support from the VDE Dresden Regional Association e.V., organized a four-day student field trip to the greater Cologne area.
This year’s excursion generated an extraordinary amount of interest: With over 40 participants, demand was higher than it had been in a long time. This underscores the high appeal of hands-on insights into energy technology as well as the students’ keen interest in current issues surrounding the energy transition.
After traveling together on Tuesday, the program for Wednesday included a visit to Amprion GmbH in Pulheim. There, the students gained comprehensive insights into the work of a transmission system operator—from a company presentation to the Future Transmission Lab and system management, culminating in a tour of Europe’s largest grid control center and the Pulheim substation. It became particularly clear during the visit what role a transmission system operator plays in integrating high levels of renewable energy generation, expanding the grid infrastructure, and ensuring security of supply and grid stability in the context of the energy transition. The day concluded with a networking event.
Thursday was devoted to two industrial visits: in the morning, the group of students toured HSP Hochspannungsgeräte GmbH in Troisdorf, which manufactures high-voltage bushings up to 1,200 kV. Everyone stood in awe in the large high-voltage hall where components are tested. In the afternoon, a factory tour followed at NKT GmbH & Co. KG in Cologne, where the production of high-voltage cable systems up to 380 kV AC and 525 kV DC was presented.
A particular highlight was the group photo taken in front of a 100-metric-ton cable drum for the major SuedLink project. The equipment presented is among the key components of modern extra-high-voltage grids and is an essential prerequisite for the further expansion of the transmission infrastructure for transporting high electrical power. The day concluded with a guided city tour of Cologne. On Friday, the group returned to Dresden and Zittau.
We would like to extend our special thanks to the companies that, with great dedication, passion, and time, gave our students a unique insight into their work. This allowed them to experience firsthand the interplay between components and the transmission grid: Research, development, manufacturing, testing, and operation are the building blocks for a reliable supply of electrical energy to everyone—especially in light of the current challenges facing a successful energy transition. Special thanks also go to the VDE Dresden Regional Association (VDE Bezirksverein Dresden e.V.) for its financial support of the field trip.
Ricardo Herrmann, Maria Kosse