Please tell us about your role at PNDC

I work as an R&D Engineer on the electrification of transport. So far this has involved working on using harmonic data measured at PNDC to analyse the impacts of EV chargers on power quality and on improving EV charge point reliability using a data-driven approach to maintenance. It is an exciting time to be involved in research on the electrification of transport with the acceleration in adoption of EVs which brings with it many challenges including providing network capacity, maintaining public charge point infrastructure and in the development of standards for new technologies such as vehicle-to-grid.

 

When did you join PNDC?

I joined in June 2021.
 

What was your background before joining PNDC?

My background originally was as a process engineer in oil and gas in Aberdeen after graduating with a masters degree in Chemical Engineering with Energy Engineering. During my masters degree I also spent a year working as a student process engineer with Fujifilm at their imaging colourants production plant in Grangemouth. In a change of career direction in 2015, I began a PhD in electrical engineering within the Wind and Marine Centre for Doctoral Training at the University of Strathclyde. The focus of the PhD was on DSO-TSO coordination and distribution network congestion management, and before joining PNDC I also worked as a research assistant investigating the aggregated flexibility available from EVs.
 

What do you enjoy most about working at PNDC?

I enjoy the variety and the challenge of translating research into practical application on projects where we work directly with industrial partners on the current challenges faced by industry. As Covid restrictions have eased it’s been great to learn about the variety of areas that PNDC work on from other team members including communications, protection and whole energy systems. Having the opportunity to test and help develop state of the art equipment needed for our future energy systems makes PNDC a fantastic place to learn.
 

What can we find you doing in your spare time?

I enjoy spending time with my newborn son, going walks, playing and listening to music and venturing further afield on family holidays.
 
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