Smarter Grid Solutions
Smarter Grid Solutions Ltd deliver platforms and software applications to electricity network operators to cost effectively facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy.
TalentScotland spoke to Alan Gooding, Managing Director, about the work they're doing to facilitate renewable energy and the opportunities they offer engineers.
Talk me through your background?
I come from an electrical engineering background. I studied at Strathclyde University before working for PricewaterhouseCoopers for three years.
From 2006 – 2008, I returned to the University of Strathclyde to work as part of an ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ initiative. I worked with the academic staff to identify technologies, within the Electronic Engineering Department, that had commercial potential.
During my two years there I assisted to varying degrees in the formation of four new spin out companies from the Department, various licensing deals and R & D contracts. Smarter Grid Solutions Ltd. was one of the spin-out companies I helped create.
How did the company get started?
It was the research of Dr Bob Currie and Professor Graham Ault in collaboration with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) that Smarter Grid Solutions formed to commercialise.
In 2008 we raised funding from SSE’s Venture Capital Fund and Scottish Enterprise’s Scottish Co-Investment Fund.
The long standing relationship with SSE culminated in Nov 2009 in the full scale deployment of the Orkney Smart Grid which was a global first. The Orkney Smart Grid saved SSE approximately £30m and won SGS two Green Energy Awards.
This demonstrates that SGS technology can provide a cost effective way for utilities to realise additional capacity from their existing assets. This allows utilities to avoid or defer capital investment and provide faster or more cost effective grid connections to their customers.We work with global energy providers like ScottishPower, E.ON and UK Power Networks.
What projects are you working on at the moment?
We are collaborating with UK Power Networks to deliver their flagship Low Carbon London smart grid project. SGS are helping UK Power Networks to undertake trials with renewable and distributed generation.
We’re also working on projects in Europe and conducting a number of feasibility studies for electricity network operator customers.
Why would a company like Smarter Grid Solutions be attractive to an engineer?
We are working on some of the industry’s flagship projects and are looking to grow overseas in the near future. Over the next 10-20 years the application of smart grid technology will become commonplace and working at SGS allows engineers to be at the forefront of that development.
What does the future hold for Smarter Grid Solutions Ltd?
As of March 2011 our turnover was £1.1 million. This figure has steadily increased 2-3 times year on year and we expect it to double again for this coming year.
We are looking for power systems, software and control engineers who can help us develop, plan, design and implement smart grid solutions for our customers.