A rotating field machine, the rotating field machine comprising: a stator; a rotor, the rotor being mounted for rotation with respect to the stator, wherein the stator comprises: a first winding, the first winding being an excitation winding configured to receive an excitation current; and a second winding, wherein the second winding is a power winding configured to accommodate power flow through the rotating field machine; wherein the excitation winding and the power winding are located in the stator such that the excitation winding and power winding are in electrical quadrature with respect to one another; and wherein the excitation winding is associated with a d-axis current and the power winding is associated with a q-axis current for the rotating field machine; the rotating field machine further comprising a power converter and a control device; the control device being configured to operate the rotating field machine in either a starting mode or a generating mode; wherein the control device is configured so that, during the starting mode, both the excitation winding and the power winding are coupled to the power converter; and is further configured so that, in the generating mode, the power winding is decoupled from the power converter. a stator; a rotor, the rotor being mounted for rotation with respect to the stator, wherein the stator comprises: a first winding, the first winding being an excitation winding configured to receive an excitation current; and a second winding, wherein the second winding is a power winding configured to accommodate power flow through the rotating field machine; wherein the excitation winding and the power winding are located in the stator such that the excitation winding and power winding are in electrical quadrature with respect to one another; and wherein the excitation winding is associated with a d-axis current and the power winding is associated with a q-axis current for the rotating field machine; the rotating field machine further comprising a power converter and a control device; the control device being configured to operate the rotating field machine in either a starting mode or a generating mode; wherein the control device is configured so that, during the starting mode, both the excitation winding and the power winding are coupled to the power converter; and is further configured so that, in the generating mode, the power winding is decoupled from the power converter. a first winding, the first winding being an excitation winding configured to receive an excitation current; and a second winding, wherein the second winding is a power winding configured to accommodate power flow through the rotating field machine; wherein the excitation winding and the power winding are located in the stator such that the excitation winding and power winding are in electrical quadrature with respect to one another; and wherein the excitation winding is associated with a d-axis current and the power winding is associated with a q-axis current for the rotating field machine; the rotating field machine further comprising a power converter and a control device; the control device being configured to operate the rotating field machine in either a starting mode or a generating mode; wherein the control device is configured so that, during the starting mode, both the excitation winding and the power winding are coupled to the power converter; and is further configured so that, in the generating mode, the power winding is decoupled from the power converter.