Powerhouse focuses in the energy sector as a Demand Side Unit Operator but with a consultancy wing specializing in Electrical Power Systems and Smart Grid. Powerhouse have established a SCADA communications platform which enables demand sites from all over Ireland to communicate directly with the Powerhouse Control Centre. This enables aggregated demand reduction to be traded within the Single Electricity Market on a half hourly basis. Due to the nature of energy trading and indeed the operational requirements of the northern and southern transmission systems operators it is necessary to separate and operate the demand portfolio on a jurisdictional basis. Within the consultancy sector I am actively helping developers to achieve a cost effect secure connections of renewable generation sources to the distribution network. I am also involved in preliminary work which shall facilitate the introduction of a major ‘Smart Grid ‘project within the island.

My experience within the electricity industry has been varied enabling me to gain experience in a variety of areas within the industry including power station control systems, marketing, distribution control and also within the regulatory and renewables sector. Within the distribution control environment I held various positions culminating as Shift Control Manager . During this time I had hands-on experience of network modelling systems primarily ABB SCADA systems together with call handling and E600 outage programming . Following my promotion to manage within the control room and as an additional portfolio I re-designed the load shedding procedure for NIE . This role also included writing pertinent sections within the company emergency plan . Risk assessment and mitigation also featured strongly during this period of my career.My last post within NIE I reported to the Operations Director and worked with external consultants in the writing of the Northern Ireland Distribution Code liaising closely with the electricity regulator during this process. My main focus was to write the operating codes and renewable generation technical requirements. I also introduced new technical requirements for D-Connected generation. To supplement the distribution code I produced two further documents which give technical guidance to developers wishing to connect to the NI network including control functionality within wind farms and individual wind generators.The role also required an active involvement introducing smart grid technologies onto the network. As part of a control systems review within NIE I directed the project team in aspects of dynamic powerflow and distribution state estimation. I was responsible for writing control room procedures to cover the operational aspects of the various protection network schemes. I headed a project team within NIE which has been successful in being eligible for a share in the EU Energy Infrastructure Package.