My Internship Journey and Insights from the 2024 Global Transmission Report’s Offshore Wind Conference in NYC 

September 27, 2024

By Christopher Biondi, Project Engineer Intern

I am currently interning as a project engineer with Attentive Energy, working on the Attentive Energy Two (AE2) project. As a senior at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, this internship has been an incredible opportunity. One of the recent highlights has been attending the Global Transmission Report’s Offshore Wind Conference alongside other NJIT students in New York City during Climate Week. 

This internship has been one of the best experiences of my life, opening doors to the innovative field of Offshore Wind. Being part of the technical team at Attentive Energy has equipped me with new technical knowledge, from preliminary front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) to HVDC and power grid interconnection. These skills are invaluable as I aim to become a stronger candidate in any future career in the offshore wind industry. 

The mentorship I’ve received here has been phenomenal. I’ve had one-on-one sessions with engineers specializing in various technical areas. They’ve explained complex processes at a high level and broken down documents into terms I can understand. This mentoring has been crucial for my success during this internship and has also influenced how I approach my studies. In group projects at school, I ensure all members understand the scope of work and address any clarifications that arise.

Attentive Energy gave me and nine other NJIT students the unique opportunity to attend the Global Transmissions Report’s Offshore Wind Conference, which highlighted the robustness and cutting-edge nature of this industry. Many companies are working towards the ambitious goal of achieving 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the United States by 2030, while also protecting biodiversity and promoting ocean co-use. The conference showcased the advantages of HVDC for offshore wind, the future of floating turbines and deep-water converter stations, as well as the collaborative efforts supporting offshore wind projects across the U.S. Seeing so many companies dedicated to advancing offshore wind solidified my aspiration to support this industry as an engineer. 

Reflecting on my time with Attentive Energy and the AE2 project, this internship has been life changing. It has deepened my appreciation for learning and helped me grow as an aspiring renewable energy engineer. My advice to other students and anyone interested in the renewable energy field is to pursue it. This field is incredibly rewarding and will elevate your engineering skills, helping you find your place and legacy in an industry that is changing the world for the better. Right now, we are at the opportunity that comes once in a generation to be part of clean energy and make history that will change the world forever.