Our quarterly newsletter showcases insights and expertise from our team of global energy specialists, curated explicitly for professionals within the electric energy sector.
In this edition, you’ll find engaging articles on the upcoming solar eclipse, the introduction of our earthing and lightning services, and the appointment of James Drummond as our new Europe Managing Director. Additionally, we delve into topics such as renewables, grid strategies, microgrids, innovation, recent team additions, and more.
If you have valuable insights to share and would like to contribute an article to our platform and the PSC News, we invite you to reach out to Gayle Wooster, our Global Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications at PSC Group.
2024 solar eclipse sheds light on behind-the-meter solar
The April 8 total solar eclipse will be an ideal opportunity for American utilities and transmission operators to verify residential rooftop solar generation in their service area and test their preparedness for FERC Order 881.
PSC UK’s Rob Knott and Stephen Lilley explain High Voltage (HV) earthing system analysis & design and why such systems are important to creating safe work areas.
Join PSC UK consultants Rob Knott and Stephen Lilley as they outline the various challenges of earthing system design for 11kV high voltage (HV) in urban areas and actions to ensure a safe system and work area.
PSC UK’s Rob Knott and Stephen Lilley delve into evaluating renewable energy systems regarding lightning risk and propose preventive measures to mitigate damage or loss.
PSC UK’s Rob Knott and Stephen Lilley explain impressed voltages and how they can be a significant safety hazard to be managed and controlled on any electrical construction site.
Guest contributor Dr. Mani Vadari offers his take on the National Public Utilities Council’s Annual Utility Decarbonization Report and its “Grounds for Change.” The report is a deep dive into the state of decarbonization across the top 47 investor-owned utilities in the United States based on their electricity generation.
PSC Canada’s Miguel Penagos underscores the importance of PQ curve analysis for utilities and developers to ensure FERC Order 827 compliance and offers insightful instruction for power flow simulation from the Point of Interconnection (POI) incorporating PQ characteristics for easier comprehension.
PSC UK’s Mahmoud Elkazaz explains how the country’s regulator, Ofgem, and the UK Government are taking action to resolve the gridlock caused by long interconnection queues. New initiatives aim is to shorten the time it currently takes for developers to get a connection, which can be two to five years or longer.
How microgrids are changing the UK electric network
PSC UK’s Mahmoud Elkazaz and Syahrul Saad explore how microgrids are revolutionizing the UK electric network and what this means for the future of energy distribution in the country.
PSC North American Power System Studies Project Lead Ajinai Ajinai discusses the issue of parallel line resonance associated with shunt compensated long transmission lines. He explains how this can occur, its impacts on the grid, and how to determine optimal mitigation strategies to stabilize grid operations.
PSC UK’s Chris Smith and Deloitte’s Liz Wells join forces in this article highlighting the importance of innovation in maintaining the UK’s dominant position in offshore wind energy.
PSC Consulting bolsters leadership team with appointment of European head
James Drummond has been appointed as the Managing Director of PSC Europe! With a remarkable track record in leading change and driving growth across the Energy and Industrial sectors, we are excited to have him head up our European operations as we navigate the energy transition.
New year, new employee spotlight! This one is an interview with Sarah Parsons, PSC’s business and strategy manager who talks about her role, her hobbies, what makes her proud to work at PSC, and so much more.
The PSC team had a productive time at the DistribuTECH International conference in Orlando, FL. The sessions provided valuable insights, sparking engaging discussions that fostered learning, networking, and inspiration.
PSC at DistribuTECH 2024. L-R: Philip Jap, Rick Hudella, John Camilleri, Ken Pratt, Gavin Darcey.
Introducing our exceptional wave of new additions who joined us during the months of December, January and February.
— PSC Asia Pacific —
PSC welcomes Jasmine Hayes to Project Finance (PF) team. Jasmine works across all regions as the PF team moves toward a collective support function where team members work across all regions. Jasmine has a background in finance and education, coming from her most recent position as a payroll specialist at a large accounting firm in New Zealand. Jasmine lives – and works remotely from – Caitlins, New Zealand.
PSC welcomes Arun Mohan to the APAC Market Systems team as a Market Systems Consultant. Arun is a Power System Software Engineer with wholesale energy market industry experience. He previously worked in India as a software engineer on the GE Market Management System, supporting the delivery of the next-gen MMS for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). He has a Master of Technology in power systems and a Bachelor’s in electrical and electronics engineering. Arun is based in our Perth, Australia, office.
PSC welcomes Luke Hoffman to our APAC Operational Technologies team. Luke has joined PSC as a Telecommunications & Networking Consultant, bringing with him more than 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. In addition to his experience, Luke is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting. Luke is located in our Adelaide, Australia, office.
PSC welcomes Dylan Jenkins to the NZ team as our Auckland-based Operational Technology Manager as we look to build the team in the North Island, NZ. The Remote OT team will report to Dylan who has recently returned to New Zealand following a 12-year adventure working as an engineer and technical manager in the UK, Germany, and the UAE. His most recent role involved leading the technical consulting team responsible for Power Grid Automation in the Middle East region. Dylan is based in our Auckland, New Zealand, office.
PSC welcomes Betania Passos to the APAC team as a Senior HR Business Partner. Betania is a trained lawyer with HR experience working across multiple countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK. She has twice built an HR function from the ground up, from a solo role to building and leading teams. Betania takes pride in her ability to build strong relationships, act as a trusted advisor to the business, and strike a critical balance between achieving business goals and being an employee advocate. Betania is based in our Brisbane, Australia, office.
PSC welcomes Adithya Murthy to PSC as a Senior Power Systems Engineerin theNZ Power Systems Studies team. Adithya obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological Institute, India in 2013 and a Master of Engineering Studies in Electrical and Electronics at the University of Auckland in 2018. Adithya started his engineering career in India before coming to New Zealand. Once in New Zealand, he obtained a wide range of experience in his previous roles in utility and consultancy environments. These roles included power system planning and analysis and various internal and external strategic initiatives. Adithya is based in our Auckland, New Zealand, office.
PSC welcomes Anitta Wilson to the APAC team as the Finance & Project Coordinator in New Zealand. Anitta is an accounting professional with over five years of accounting and financial experience in India, Dubai, and New Zealand. For the past five years, she has managed financial responsibilities such as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and trade loans. Anitta is based in our Christchurch, New Zealand, office.
PSC welcomesOwen Gibsonto the APAC Power System Studies team as a Power Systems Engineer. Owen brings his experience in power system studies, analysis and protection to this role. He holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from QUT (Queensland University of Technology). Owen is based in our Hobart, Australia, office.
— PSC North America —
PSC welcomes Mary Wright to the North America IT team. Mary has been in the IT field for the last five years. She served in the United States Army as a System Engineer and System Administrator providing full-spectrum IT support during multiple missions/deployments and training soldiers. Mary is currently finishing up a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. She was inspired to pursue a Cybersecurity degree due to her exposure to various projects and mere motivation within the IT field during her time spent in the military. Mary is based in our office in North Carolina in the US.
PSC welcomes Omar Beltran to the Power Networks North America Team. Omar brings his experience in power systems studies and analysis, particularly related to the interconnection of renewable and conventional generation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Orizaba, a MSc. in Power Systems from the University of Michoacan and a Ph.D. in Power Systems from the University of San Luis Potosi. From 2016 to 2017, he had an international research stay with Dr. Eduard Muljadi from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, US. In 2019, he worked as an international research Fellow at Howard University in Washington, DC, developing a test bed for advanced multistage and control of smart grids in a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). Omar is based in our Burnaby, British Columbia office in Canada.
PSC welcomes Sumedha Sharma to the Power Networks North America Team. Sumedha originally hails from India and has been living in Alberta, Canada for two years. Sumedha holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Energy Systems from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, where she developed a strong foundation in power system analysis and optimization in uncertain distribution networks. Before her doctoral studies, she received her master’s degree in engineering (M.E.) in power systems from Thapar University, India, and Bachelor’s degree in Technology (B.Tech.) in electrical and electronics engineering from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, India. Sumedha has been an active IEEE member and reviewer for reputed academic journals and conferences. Sumedha is based remotely in Canada.
PSC welcomes Ramin Babazade to the Power Networks North America Team as a Power Systems Consultant. Ramin graduated in 2016 from Urmia University, Urmia, Iran with a Bachelor in Electrical Power Systems Engineering and holds a M.Sc. degree in Electrical Energy Systems from Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Concordia University in Montreal, QC, Canada. He has delivered several industrial and utility power system projects as a Power Systems Engineering Intern and formerly, a Project Researcher. He has experience in power systems, especially in renewable energy integration and microgrids, power converters, transmission and distribution networks, and controls, both in the EMT and RMS domains. Ramin is based in our Burnaby, British Columbia office in Canada.
PSC welcomes Nancy Mohamed to the Power Networks North America Team. Nancy holds a Bachelor’s and M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and recently obtained a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo. She has more than 10 years of work experience in electrical power systems research and development, planning and operation. Nancy has experience in power system studies and in substation and transmission lines studies. Nancy is based remotely in the US.
— PSC Europe —
PSC is pleased to welcome James Drummond to PSC. James is the Managing Director of Europe. James has a proven track record in leading change and delivering growth in the Energy, Industrial and Technology sectors at both a corporate and SME level with a focus on: Innovation (Digital Processes and Software Solutions), Diversification (Adjacent Markets and New Services), Performance (Sales, Operational, and Financial Excellence). His specialist skills include a strategic approach to delivering growth in the Energy, Industrial and Technology sectors at both a corporate and SME level with a focus on: Innovation (Digital Processes and Software Solutions), Diversification (Adjacent Markets and New Services), Performance (Sales, Operational, and Financial Excellence). His specialist skills include a strategic approach to decision-making, building plans for executing strategy, fostering teams, and developing talent. James is based remotely in the UK.
PSC welcomes Alfredo Arteaga, the new Senior Manager of Strategic Advisory at PSC Europe. With his broad experience and a keen eye for innovation in Electrical Power Systems, Alfredo is well-equipped to lead and nurture our engineering teams in their strategic goals. Alfredo brings a rich background from his previous roles, including his tenure as a Senior Engineering Manager at his previous company and other roles in HVDC and Substation Automation. Alfredo is completing an MSc in Systems Engineering Technical Leadership from the University of Warwick and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Power Systems from Universidad Simon Bolívar, Venezuela, where he also studied towards an MSc in Electrical Engineering. Alfredo is based remotely in Stafford, UK.
PSC welcomes Devansh Gautam to the UK as an Engineer within the Power Systems Studies team. Devansh joins us from “Open Access Technology International (OATI-Transerv),” a FERC-approved independent transmission organization for North America, where he carried out steady-state, stability, and short circuit analysis along with transmission planning and grid integration of renewable generators. Before this, he worked for the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, carrying out system studies, commissioning, and maintenance activities at the distribution level. Devansh is based remotely in the UK.
PSC welcomes Mikhail Lukianenko to the UK team as a Senior Power Network Solutions consultant. Mikhail has over 15 years of professional experience working as a Protection and Control Engineer for a distribution network operator, a substation design company, and a Technical Lead Engineer at an EPC corporation. He is originally from Russia with a Master’s degree in power systems from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Mikhail is very interested in renewable energy technologies and is looking forward to the implementation of these innovative solutions into Power Networks. Over the past few years, he lived and worked in Uzbekistan, and as the contract ended, he decided to move to the UK with his family. Mikhail is based remotely in the UK.
PSC welcomes Nick Neal to the UK team as Senior Project Finance Specialist. Nick is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management and Member of the Institute of Export and International Trade. She has worked in the credit profession for over 30 years, allowing her to work internationally and use her skills to help businesses grow. Some of Nick’s previous positions include Business Growth and Investment Manager, International Trade Adviser, Senior Credit Risk Analyst, and Credit Analyst. Nick is based in the Newcastle, UK, office.
