Issue: 75 / May 2021
Foreword
Welcome to the May issue of PSC News, the third of 2021, but the first in our newly refreshed branding. We hope you like the look of it, but more importantly, we hope you appreciate the content.
We have much to celebrate in this issue. Beyond our brand refresh, we’re also celebrating PSC’s 26th anniversary this month. In traditional wedding anniversary celebrations, there is a theme to go along with each year’s gift. Pictures are the traditional 26th anniversary gift, and we have included a bunch in this issue, including pictures of all the new people we’ve hired since the last PSC News.
PSC also celebrated Earth Day last month and would like to emphasize climate communications with an article contributed by our partner, SLR Consulting about the importance of developing plans for climate action, as well as an article about our collaborative work with WPD on the innovative ReFlex project.
Rounding it all out, we’re featuring a success story from South Australia with a telecommunications project we helped Consolidated Power Projects Australia deliver to enable a new HV transmission line for ElectraNet.
We hope you enjoy this issue of the PSC News and encourage you to let us know if you’d like to share your industry articles or content with us. We’d love to include you.
Tim Ritchie, Chief Revenue Officer
By Alex Boyd
PSC celebrates 26 years
May 22, 1995, is PSC’s birthday when founders Tony Armstrong and Ranil De Silva wrote the first chapter of PSC’s history in New Zealand. Since then – supported by our amazing clients and dedicated employees around the world – PSC has faced our ups and downs and continues to help our clients solve the real-world problems facing the electricity industry today.
By Tim Ritchie
PSC brand refresh
We’re excited to unveil our refreshed brand identity. It’s not a major change. We’re just implementing some new elements – a fresh coat of paint, if you will – in terms of our voice and visual branding.
Guest Contributors – Aleksandra Taskovic & Sam Gill
The driving forces behind climate momentum and clean energy transition for businesses, and the actions to take
Guest contributors Aleksandra Taskovic and Sam Gill from SLR Consulting offer their insights about the global energy transition and the importance of businesses developing their own plans for climate action.
By Grant McCormick
WPD and PSC submit ReFlex project for OFGEM Network Innovation Competition
PSC is collaborating with WPD to develop a project to trial flexible reactive power in distribution networks to realize the real-world benefit demonstrated in the Virtual Statcom project studies.
By Tim Ritchie
PSC celebrates earth day
PSC’s contribution to addressing climate change is helping you power a more sustainable world and on April 22 we celebrated Earth Day. PSC’s Chief Revenue Officer, Tim Ritchie, shares his thoughts about what Earth Day means to him and what it means to PSC.
Building and maintaining an external model
While the primary focus for EMS modeling is on a company’s own electric system, an external model of neighboring electric systems is needed to support the internal EMS operations of the company.
By Ann Burns
PSC attends virtual Future Networks Conference
The UK’s Future Networks Conference took place virtually April 28-29 and brought together C-level energy network executives as directors, heads and managers responsible for innovation, regulation, strategy and more, to set out how net-zero challenges will be managed within RIIO2 constraints. PSC UK was in attendance to gain and share insights.
Telecommunications help power South Australian Mines
Engaged by CPP to help on an ElectraNet project, PSC provided its telecommunications expertise to deliver a new 275kV substation, a solar-powered optical fiber repeater site, and protection and telecommunications equipment to ultimately give OZ Minerals direct access to the main electricity grid to power their mining operations.
— Asia Pacific —
Bhairav Lad Please welcome Bhairav Lad who has joined PSC as a Power Systems Engineer. Bhairav has over 8 years of international experience working on a wide range of projects including grid and plant integration studies, commissioning impact studies and technical due diligence. Bhairav will be based in our Melbourne office as a member of the Power Networks team in Australia.
Mustafa Motiwala PSC welcomes Mustafa Motiwala who joined the PSC Perth Market Systems team in March. Mustafa is a Principal Full Stack Developer with over 18 years of experience in the field of software engineering and development. His career spans different business verticals with extensive experience around developing concurrent applications including full-stack development for mobile and web-based applications, and a variety of cloud platforms.
Madeleine Lim PSC welcomes Madeleine Lim to the Australian team. Madeleine recently graduated with Honours from the University of Western Australia in the field of Software Engineering. Her research project focused on object detection on honey bees, and she has experience as an automation test analyst in the health and financial industries. On the weekends, you can find Madeleine houseplant shopping, jumping out of aeroplanes or attending local art markets.
Satheesh Kandasami We are pleased to welcome Satheesh Kandasami to PSC. He is a Controls Systems Engineer with more than 17 years of diverse experience in the detailed design, development, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of control systems and instrumentation for process control industries. This includes experience with multiple manufacturer products. Satheesh will be based in our Auckland office supporting our clients across New Zealand.
Manu Hamblyn PSC welcomes Manu Hamblyn back, who has re-joined the PSC Operational Technologies team in the Christchurch office as a Substation Automation Engineer. Manu has just recently completed a BE(hons) degree at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and brings 20+ years’ experience in communications and network solutions spanning roles such as Support Engineer, Sales Engineer, Consultancy and Account Management both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Heskin Mzungu Heskin joins the APAC Power Networks team as the new Team Leader Power System Studies (based in Melbourne). Heskin joins us from South Africa with a wealth of technical and leadership experience. Most recently, he was an Expertise Leader in Power Systems & Modelling at Zutari (formerly known as Aurecon). Before holding this role, Heskin was a Technical Director in Aurecon’s Africa Energy Unit leading the Power Systems team for the African Business.
Subhashish Bhattacharya Please welcome Subhashish Bhattacharya to the Brisbane Power Network Solutions team. He joins us with a wealth varied experience, and passion for developing power system models which will complement both the System Studies and Network solutions teams. Subhasish has extensive knowledge and competence in using power system modelling and design software, and a detailed understating of protection for both conventional and renewable based power systems.
John Beattie Please welcome John Beattie to the team. John joins PSC as the new Manager for Telecoms and SE Australia. John joins us following senior and regional leadership roles with NBN Co, Service Stream and Telstra where he has led field services, construction, consulting and service delivery teams across the telecommunications sector. He brings a wealth of experience to the role in building and developing teams and delivering to clients.
Kylie Whiting PSC welcomes Kylie Whiting who joins PSC’s Finance team as the Assistant Controller based in our Johnsonville office, New Zealand. Kylie has previously worked for Shell Oil in London in a number of roles including Controller of a number of global companies, and Finance Advisor for Shell Fleet Solutions, plus other companies in London. She has also worked in Chartered Accounting firms here in New Zealand.
— Europe —
Alexandre Delode PSC welcomes Alexandre Delode to the Europe Power Networks team. Alexandre is a Senior Engineer with vast experience in the renewable power generation industry. Previously Alexandre has worked for companies such as Enercon and Engie. An avid explorer and seasoned traveller, Alexandre arrived in Ireland earlier in March this year to join the PSC Ireland team after spending some time in the jungle in Costa Rica.
Suzanne Woodburn We welcomed Suzanne to PSC in April as a Senior Human Resources Generalist, supporting all of our Europe team. Suzanne will have responsibility for all PEOPLE related activities in the region. Suzanne is a seasoned Human Resource professional with over 25 years of experience. She is particularly strong in the areas of Learning and Development, Acquisitions, Management Coaching, Talent Acquisition and Conflict Resolution.
Shahab Ahmad Khan PSC welcomes Shahab Khan to the UK Power System Studies team. Shahab joins us from having previously worked with Hitachi ABB Power Grids where he was carrying out grid code compliance studies and overseeing project delivery. Before that, Shahab also worked for RINA and GE. Shahab brings extensive experience in distribution and transmission system planning to the team along with classical system studies experience as we continue to grow our portfolio of projects addressing the challenges facing the industry.
