Peter O’Connor has over two decades of experience spanning the energy, power, minerals and waste sectors, having worked on a diverse range of projects across Europe throughout his career. He combines technical expertise with a passion for mentoring early-career team members and delivering impactful projects that contribute to Ireland’s energy transition and sustainability goals.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

I started off with passion and fascination with maps and geography. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but then I went to an open evening for a surveying course in Dublin. I always loved the idea of working outdoors rather than being stuck behind a desk. The course opened doors to travel across Europe, working on surveying different projects through Erasmus and similar summer schemes between third level institutes.

I started my career in a company that specialised in mineral surveying. From there, I began working on various projects, which gradually led me to focus on energy and power. I’ve certainly had my share of experiences in the field — many of which include challenging site and weather conditions.

Initially, I was directly involved with mineral exploration, management and extraction projects. This progressed to managing mineral waste, which eventually transitioned into commercial and industrial waste projects and nudged my career into the world of the circular economy. I’ve been directly involved in projects where we reduce waste, manage resources and harness energy, and now work on a range of thermal and renewable energy generation sector projects. It’s interesting to witness how interconnected these elements are in our industry, a true circular economy and the challenges that the modern world brings with it. Joining ArchTam was a perfect fit and the role allowed me to combine my expertise in energy and power sectors, with my ability to mentor early-career professionals while allowing me to become a trusted advisor for clients.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

One of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on is the Kilroot Power Station project in Northern Ireland. The project kicked off shortly before the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020 and involved transitioning a coal-fired power station to gas, which required pre-application work for a gas pipeline connection and integrating advanced technology. It wasn’t without its challenges — lockdowns, social distance site visits and a challenging programme managing a large multi-disciplinary environmental team was part of the job — but seeing the project secure consent, constructed and go live was incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. The early-career team members were excited about the projects as well, because they knew that the client was invested, and they could see the full project lifecycle — design to consenting to construction through to implementation — be delivered in a relatively short period of time. Our team’s environmental expertise and robust Environmental Statement and support to the planning process ensured the project itself contributed to cleaner energy solutions in the region and is a great example of how our work can make a real difference.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Many of the projects I work on are large‑scale in nature, and as a result, their impact is both far‑reaching and undeniable. Our clients are deeply committed to strengthening energy security during a critical transitional period on the journey toward net zero. Being part of this work — especially at a time when the industry is navigating such complex challenges and ambitious sustainability goals — feels genuinely meaningful.

Knowing that our contributions help keep essential services running, support long‑term resilience, and ultimately play a role in keeping the lights on is incredibly rewarding. There is also a strong sense of purpose in recognising how this work supports wider economic growth, both by enabling the energy sector to operate efficiently and by helping create the conditions for future investment and innovation. The scale and significance of these projects make the work both motivating and fulfilling.

Share a piece of career advice.

My advice to anyone starting their career is to embrace opportunities and stay adaptable. It’s okay not to know exactly what you want to do early on so expose yourself to as many different experiences as possible and don’t pigeonhole yourself too soon. Never stop challenging yourself, always be open to adapt your skill set and keep your professional development forefront of your personal and professional goals. With that in mind, I encourage early-career team members to work towards relevant chartership and professional memberships early in their career. Listen to your peers, absorb as much knowledge as you can, and focus on building strong relationships.

I often encourage early‑career team members to talk to everyone. When you’re on a site visit, take the time to chat with — and really listen to — the people on site or in the office. These conversations help you understand exactly what stakeholders and clients need.

Our Impact Assessment team collaborates with a wide variety of clients and technical teams, and sometimes we’re the face of those teams on projects. Remember: the early‑career professionals of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and the connections you build now will be invaluable throughout your career.

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When Bram moved to Australia in late 2022, he brought with him more than 17 years of experience in one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy sectors, offshore wind. Now leading ArchTam’s offshore wind strategy in Australia and New Zealand, Bram is applying that deep global knowledge to help stand up a new industry from the ground up.

What excites you most about contributing to a new industry from the ground up?

When I moved to Australia in late 2022, I brought with me over 17 years of offshore wind experience from Europe, an industry I’ve seen grow from its early days into a cornerstone of the energy transition. Now, leading ArchTam’s offshore wind strategy in Australia and New Zealand, I get to help build something new from the ground up.

This is an incredibly exciting moment. Australia is at the starting line of what could be one of the world’s most important offshore wind markets. Being part of the foundational work and laying the groundwork for future success is deeply rewarding.

What drew you to offshore wind, and how does your background shape the way you work?

I studied aerospace engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. That foundation taught me to think systematically, solve complex problems and collaborate across disciplines. Offshore wind is the perfect match for that mindset, it combines engineering, environment, infrastructure, logistics and economics into one field.

What really drew me in was the complexity, and the sense of purpose.

That sense of purpose has stayed with me throughout my career.

How do you stay motivated on long and complex projects?

The projects I’ve worked on include Galloper in the UK,  Noirmoutier in France and Hollandse Kust West in The Netherlands. Some of these projects can take a decade or more to develop. They’re multibillion-dollar undertakings involving layers of technical and commercial complexity. Each one requires coordination across environmental approvals, stakeholder engagement, transmission planning, port logistics and offshore construction.

What keeps me motivated is working with teams to solve problems. That shared sense of progress, even over the long term, is what I find most rewarding.

What infrastructure is most critical to offshore wind success in Australia?

Australia’s offshore wind sector is still in its infancy, but the opportunity is enormous. With more than 15 projects in 6 federally declared areas, and growing political and regulatory support, the foundation is forming. Now, we need to make sure the enabling infrastructure is there.

At ArchTam, we’re already known for our strength in environmental and planning services, but two areas will be critical in the years ahead: transmission, because you can’t generate power at sea if there’s no way to get it to land, and ports.

Offshore wind can’t happen without suitable ports for construction and maintenance. This is a space where we offer crucial technical and strategic support.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities and challenges for offshore wind in the next five years?

The global momentum is undeniable. We’re seeing offshore wind expand from its European heartlands into new regions, Australia, Taiwan, U.S., Japan, South Korea, and other countries. Each market is different, with its own challenges, but the need for clean, reliable power is the same.

I think we’ll see a new wave of innovation in areas like floating wind, grid integration, and port design. But we also need to be realistic, this is a long-term effort.

What keeps you personally connected to your purpose at work?

I’ve always had a connection to the wind, and when I’m not at work, I’m often out windsurfing. It’s more than just a hobby, it’s a reminder of why I do what I do.

Being out on the water reminds me of the power of nature — and the responsibility we have to harness it sustainably.

The post Transitioning Australia’s energy system: Meet Bram Derks appeared first on Blog.

What has shaped your passion for the energy sector and power systems engineering?

Ever since I saw my first transformer phase effective diagram, I was in. I haven’t looked back since.

My career has been shaped by my passion for the game-changing potential of solar energy and battery storage, which are growing exponentially each year. This duo is the cornerstone of Australia’s clean energy future, and it’s scalable, flexible and rapidly evolving.

What’s your career journey, and what kinds of projects are you working on now?

Having worked in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain, I bring a global lens to my work. But I’ve now settled in WA, where I’ve spent most of my career. I joined ArchTam from a role at Western Power, which was a surprisingly smooth transition. I was impressed by how integrated the team is. There are no silos or barriers, we just get straight into the work. It’s genuinely collaborative.

We’re figuring out how to integrate AC and DC systems, how to expand existing networks, and do it all while navigating environmental and social concerns. It’s a real intersection of engineering and policy.

What makes ArchTam stand out?

We can deliver the hardware that connects renewable generation to where it’s needed. We’re building our team here in WA, training them and making sure they’re ready for the scale of change ahead.

What challenges is the sector facing in Australia?

There’s a big skills gap. When I started, there was a 30-year gap between me and the next senior power systems engineer. We just hadn’t trained people in this space for decades, and now we’re feeling it.

Community resistance is also big. We all know of NIMBYs [Not In My Backyards]. Now it’s BANANA, which is Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything. Planning timelines are ballooning, and a lack of community acceptance is a huge barrier to getting the green light on projects.

Neither the government nor the private sector is stepping up to lead, creating a gap where strong leadership is missing.

What opportunities are there in the sector?

REZs (Renewable Energy Zones) are thousands of kilometres from where energy is needed. Our existing systems are near capacity, and system strength and frequency control are still unresolved.

I know this sounds like I’m just listing more problems, but these are exciting challenges that make it a good time to be an electrical engineer.

There’s more coming for batteries, because betting against them is a surefire way to lose money. We’ll see more virtual synchronous machines too, to help manage inertia.

So, how do you keep the balance? What do you like to do outside of work?

I’m obsessed with astronomy. It’s humbling. Looking up at the stars reminds me how small we are. I used to be one of the telescope operators at the Perth Observatory, taking people on tours of the night sky.

The post Transitioning Australia’s energy system: Meet Denan Kurejsepi appeared first on Blog.

In this context, tech companies, utilities and regulators are having to figure out how technology innovation and economic development are delivered, without unduly burdening other consumers through higher electric rates. This has come to a head in the Midwest, where a local utility and Big Tech firms are in a dispute before the State’s Public Service Commission to decide the electric pricing structure (or tariff) for data centers. The outcome of this dispute may serve as an indicator of things to come across the U.S.

Data centers require significant amounts of reliable power for their operations. A large, hyperscale data center runs continuously and adds the equivalent of 400,000 electric vehicles to the power system¹. In its local service territory, the Midwest utility provider estimates that power needs will more than double by 2030 and thereafter increase nearly ten-fold if all interested data centers are developed. To provide this amount of power reliably, utilities must make significant investment in the power transmission and distribution infrastructure. The local utility states that billions of dollars in grid infrastructure are needed to meet the projected additional load for data centers in its service territory.

New electric infrastructure is paid for over time through the electricity rates of those customers that drive the infrastructure need. However, given the scale of power demand, the utility provider is proposing a new tariff specifically for data centers, to ensure long term commitments to the projected electricity demand. Without these commitments, the utility provider fears the demand may not materialize and the utility will be stranded with unnecessary and costly infrastructure upgrades which will need to be paid for by other customers.

Data centers currently fall under general tariffs for large industrial users. The newly proposed, industry-specific tariff is highly unusual. However, because the power demand is so great, the utility provider is seeking a data center tariff with longer contract terms, higher minimum demand charges and greater financial assurance provisions than required of other general customer classes.

The technology firms which own these data centers assert the approach is misguided and unfair. The tariff singles out one industry, rather than applying to all those with similar characteristics, such as loads and usage patterns. Moreover, these firms argue that the approach will stifle innovation and economic growth and will harm data-driven critical functions upon which society relies.

The foundational elements of this dispute are shown in the table below. Since the initial filing, the parties have closed the gap between their positions but remain committed to the fundamental principles underpinning their rationale. On the one hand, the utility is seeking to protect other customer classes and reduce unnecessary investment by ensuring longer term commitments. While on the hand, Big Tech is looking to establish tariffs that drive innovation and growth through the appropriate grid investments without individual industries being singled out.

The core of the dispute:

These negotiations between the utility, Big Tech firms and other rate payers could have historic ramifications:

• The resolution may set a precedent for other regions where there are similar issues involving data center development, power needs and infrastructure.
• This matter also highlights the growing tension between Big Tech and state regulators. Data center developers wield significant socio-economic and political influence, generating employment and using their data to underpin the operations of critical functions, such as hospitals.

As demand for data centers and accompanying power continue to increase exponentially, regulators will need to manage this growth in a manner that is sustainable and equitable for the data centers themselves, the utilities and infrastructure involved, as well as other ratepayers.

Finally, this debate also highlights the strategic importance of the power transmission and distribution grid. The power grid not only serves as the backbone of our everyday lives, but it is also the enabler of the energy transition. It connects not just data centers, but also heat pumps, electrolyzers (for green hydrogen production), electric vehicles, offshore wind and other technologies that will serve our energy needs of today and tomorrow.

What happens in the matter of this case will have strategic implications locally and nationally: signaling how utilities, regulators and large energy users may collaborate to meet the energy needs of the future.

¹IEA World Energy Outlook 2024 Launch Presentation

The post How AI and data centers are testing the U.S. power grid appeared first on Blog.

Katie Berry joined ArchTam in 2021 as a graduate engineer based in our Glasgow office. She is now a chemical and process engineer with our Energy Transition team in our Bristol office. Her work mostly focuses on carbon capture on power generation and Power-to-X projects, such as solar photovoltaic projects with green hydrogen production.

What inspired you to join the industry? 

The aspect of the energy industry that appealed to me the most was the level of innovation involved in the energy transition to address the climate crisis. I enjoy learning new things and, in this industry, there are infinite opportunities to learn. Additionally, due to the nature of our work, many of our projects will be first-of-their-kind. I feel empowered to play a part in shifting the world’s energy system in a new direction and contributing to tackling the climate crisis firsthand. 

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?  

One of my favourite ArchTam projects I’ve worked on so far is a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study completed in collaboration with our U.S. process engineering team for Avnos Inc. for a hybrid direct air capture (HDAC) system — a type of carbon capture technology. Avnos recently started up a pilot unit in Bakersfield, California, removing up to 30 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year. It is a first-of-its-kind technology. ArchTam’s role was to design a larger demonstration unit building based on the lessons learned from the pilot plant. One of the learnings from the pilot plant was the importance of keeping the design of the absorber bed simple and not overcomplicate its operation. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to work on this project that removes CO2 from the atmosphere, making it a negative emissions technology. Most of our carbon capture work to date has been on a point source of emissions rather than drawing directly from the atmosphere, so these would be classed as carbon mitigation technologies rather than removal. 

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community. 

I recently used my ArchTam social value hours to carry out a project in Peru with WindAid. Every employee at ArchTam is allocated 2 days (16 hours) per year to use on a social value project of their choice. I worked with a team of other volunteers and interns to construct a 500-watt wind turbine for a local family. Many communities in Peru live in rural areas, where 37 percent of households do not have access to electricity. This limits their communication with other households and communities and keeps them from carrying out tasks such as completing homework after daylight hours. Our installation of the wind turbine provided this family (including two young children) with light and an electricity supply to charge their phones. In addition to providing renewable electricity, WindAid engaged with the local university on projects and provided internships to students from the university. 

Share a piece of career advice. 

Always make decisions for yourself and try not to be too easily influenced by others. Don’t worry if it takes time to work out what exactly it is you want to do with your career and life — it’s better to take your time rather than rush into something which is inevitably unfulfilling. I think it’s easy to get pulled in certain directions because of the expectations of other people around you, or because it seems like the quickest route to being ‘successful’. But ultimately, it’s your career and your life, and it is not a competition or a race.  

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Neil Dennis is based in Melbourne, Australia and has over 40 years of experience in project management, design and commissioning on a wide range of industrial projects spanning the petroleum, gas, mining, defense, water and wastewater, and food industries. He has undertaken lead roles in plant safety analysis, audits, and investigations, as well as the development of safe work standards and regulations.

Neil is passionate about improving industry safety standards. He has held the prestigious position of Chair of the Australia and New Zealand Standards committee for explosive atmosphere standards. He is also now the Chair of the International Electrotechnical Commission sub-committee. He applies his extensive knowledge of explosive protection to ensure safer workplaces for employees and communities globally.

Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.

My parents operated a family industrial electrical services business and from a young age, I was involved in electrical engineering. By the time I graduated from university, the family business had wrapped up, so I struck out on my own and stumbled into petroleum refining with Shell in Geelong, Australia. From there, I started with a small consulting firm working with other petroleum industry sites in Melbourne.

Working in the petroleum industry kicked off my technical passion, and I began noticing problems with how Australian standards for explosion protection were written. I started conversing with the standards writing bodies to identify issues and propose solutions, which were often accepted. One thing led to another, one contact led to another, and one problem solved led to another to be solved. My inspiration has been to improve industry safety standards and understanding.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I have worked on many projects with so many highlights that it’s difficult to pick a favorite. The great thing about my specialty is I’m involved in a vast range of projects, from aviation fuel to zinc production.

One of the most technically satisfying but environmentally demanding projects involved a Victorian paper mill. The paper production process usually results in toxic and flammable gases that are unique to their industry. The local safety regulators issued a notice to the paper mill to properly address the explosion safety issues, or face shutdown. There was a lack of proper guidance and recommendations for the facility. Following careful analysis, I resolved the safety issues, and the regulatory notice was withdrawn before the final report was completed. The paper mill continued to operate, and the results ensured a safer working environment for the staff.

The project also required a thorough investigation of the papermaking processes and the gases’ properties. The paper mill posed complex challenges but the satisfaction of delivering such positive safety outcomes made the project a highlight of my career.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

Safety is a focus of my work, and my involvement in the Australian and international standard committees positively impacts the well-being of individuals and the wider community.

Many people associate safety issues with petroleum fuels and gases like liquified petroleum gas or hydrogen. However, the more significant safety risks often come from common materials such as sugar and flour which can create large explosions when mishandled in manufacturing plants.

For example, I was engaged to undertake a hazardous area audit for a printing company in Melbourne where the levels of flammable vapor were so high that they presented a significant toxicity risk to the workers as well as an explosion risk. We used advanced computational fluid dynamics modeling to identify the cause of the problem and refine the solution. The result was a far safer work environment for many employees, one that promptly reduced headaches amongst staff members and should improve long-term health outcomes.

Share a piece of career advice. 

Never let a chance go by. I didn’t set out to end up where I am the pathway here was never mapped in any career advice forum and there was no training in my field of expertise when I started. Events happened, and I took each opportunity not knowing what would be next but making sure that what was done, was done well.

The other piece of advice: no one is an expert on their own. You need other experts who think like you, and understand and believe in you, and a good team to help you learn. Sometimes this means educating a competitor, but the market is big enough for both of you to survive, and you will be known as a leader, not a follower.

Opal Paper Mill – Victoria

Adelaide airport jet fuel storage

Mondelez Scoresby confectionary manufacture

No. 1 Maribyrnong Berth – Melbourne

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Texans have traditionally had reliable power delivered from large energy producers. But a combination of physical and cyber-related threats exacerbated by extreme weather conditions are testing the electric grid with increasing frequency. To be resilient in the future, the grid needs to move from a system dominated by large power suppliers to one that includes a network of smaller, more nimble energy resources. According to grid operator officials from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas the recent weather disaster put Texas’ power grid “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months.

A state of emergency has been declared in Texas. While this will help provide funds for recovery, it will also give Texas the opportunity to strengthen its energy infrastructure against future threats by integrating disaster risk reduction measures into the restoration of physical infrastructure, social systems and shelter.

What went wrong?

The electric grid was designed to deliver power with reasonable degree of certainty even in extreme conditions. To achieve this, most systems rely on a series of redundant back up equipment. During the recent weather disaster, many of these systems failed across Texas, leading to prolonged outages. Some have mistakenly questioned whether renewable energy resources were to blame, but this ignores the root causes of grid functionality and the aging infrastructure we use to deliver power.

Fixing the grid won’t happen overnight and the investment required is significant. To optimize this spending, these improvements should anticipate increasing frequency and unpredictability of shock or stress to the grids. According to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) a resilient system must have “the capability to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and/or rapidly recover from” disruptive events.

Local energy resources as a system backup: Distributed Energy Resources (DER)

As part of a post-disaster resiliency strategy, major power users should consider developing localized, distributed generation. By siting power resources locally, communities, businesses and infrastructure will become more resilient in the face of challenges both natural, like climate change, and man-made, like cyber-attacks. This strategy typically includes onsite power generation, a storage system and a microgrid to provide local generation and local control that can be islanded from the larger grid to keep power flowing.

On-site power can be generated by renewable resources like solar panels, small wind turbines and geothermal power or by more traditional natural gas generators. Storage, in the form of batteries or other technologies, provides back up energy to use during energy spikes or post-emergency. A microgrid uses smart technology to distribute the power locally, island power off the larger grid and connect to the larger grid for backup as needed.

Localized distributed generation will not and should not replace the bulk power system which is much needed for reliability. Local resources can, however, be extremely effective by providing a backup source of electricity, or alleviating strain on the larger grid by serving loads locally in the event of extreme weather events.

Spreading the cost: Energy as a Service (EaaS)

To help pay for this transition to distributed energy, the finance community has embraced the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model. A service provider owns the equipment and the customer pays for the service that equipment provides, for instance a kilowatt of power. This model shifts the upfront capital cost of the equipment to an operational expense for the distributed energy used over time.

Why resilience should be a top priority

Texas has been badly shaken by recent events, which have left many communities in the cold during one of the toughest winters on record. Already there is a determination to emerge from this stronger, and the recovery funds offer an opportunity to reboot. New financing models like EaaS that spread the upfront cost could make those funds go further while significantly improving energy resilience and protect the wellbeing and livelihood of her citizens.

Darcy Immerman is Senior Vice President, Energy for ArchTam. In this position, Ms. Immerman collaborates with corporations, universities, utilities and healthcare to become more resilient, recover from shocks and stresses and manage risk by integrating disaster preparedness with a strategy for rapid response and recovery deploying distributed energy resources. Darcy is a past recipient of the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Management from the U.S. Department of Energy and an Energy Efficiency Award from National Resources Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency. She is currently serving on the Executive Advisory Council of the IEEE Power and Energy Society.

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We asked our women employee network: What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made? From associate vice presidents to senior engineer consultants, here’s what they had to share.

 Ready for your next big career move? Browse our Careers site and sign up for our Talent Network to stay in the loop on new opportunities.

Amy Canfield – Associate Vice President, Transportation

I attribute a lot of my success to identifying mentors early on in my career. I’ve proactively sought out relationships with people in positions I aspire to and I’ve been fortunate to have several people take me under their wing. The advice, cautionary tales and relationships they helped me foster have shaped my career goals. I’ve surrounded myself with allies who truly care about me and support my ambitions — both professional and personal. I don’t work in fear and because of that, I’m happy, I take chances and I’m not afraid to dream big.

Dana Al-Qadi – Senior Engineering Consultant

The best career decision I ever made was realizing that careers are hardly ever built on a single decision. Careers are the culmination of all the times we decide to say “yes” — a tiny word that can lead to immense change. I have benefited from saying yes to working in new disciplines, investing in my own technical growth in emerging areas, prioritizing learning from our many experts and committing my time to mentorship and team growth. Even when opportunities do not immediately seem like they fit in the larger goals of your pre-planned career, they can still be incredibly valuable.

Maria Ivanova – Architect
The best career decision I’ve ever made was to join the graduate development program in Continental Europe. It introduced me to new people in various roles who had different expertise. I’ve learned that expanding my network is one of the most powerful development tools. Collaborating with and learning from others has helped me become more confident, both personally and professionally — I was able to settle in to a new role in Kazakhstan with ease. I am now a big advocate for the graduate development program and lead initiatives to bring more talent to the Eastern Europe region.

Amineh Ahmad – Senior Engineer, Project Controls

My career path with ArchTam started in 2015 as a graduate project controls engineer, where I supported design projects and had the opportunity to work with an amazing project manager who later became my mentor. The best career decision I’ve ever made was during my second year — I had a choice to continue on my current path or join the civil infrastructure end market. The idea of changing end markets was terrifying because it involved a transition from residential and healthcare to ports and bridges. I also had to consider the established relationship with my mentor. Ultimately, I decided to make the shift because of the new challenges that my new work profile and projects would bring. Making this change helped me gain confidence and increased my sense of accomplishment at work.

Bryony Martin – Regional Director and B+P UK&I Aviation Market Sector Leader

The best career decision I ever made was to get a mentor. My first mentor was a director working at ArchTam, but on a completely different team. Having someone to bounce ideas off of was hugely valuable; I was lucky that my mentor had faced many of the challenges that I was facing, was very successful in her career and was formidable in her approach to work. She challenged me to think differently about work and life! She has been one of the most influential and inspiring people in my career. Ever since building our relationship, I have been a huge advocate for the mentoring process, and I have learned to accept constructive feedback and use it to improve my skills and reflect on the impact I make.

Elke Watts – Operations Manager

The best career decision I’ve made has been to say “yes” to things outside my comfort zone. I joined ArchTam as an environmental scientist in 2014. After a few years managing projects and delivering technical work, I wanted to explore doing entirely different things. When opportunities to work on new projects within the business became available, I took the chance to branch out. The unknown can be perceived as risky, but by saying yes and opening myself up to new tasks, I secured an amazing job working with a team that I love. The ANZ Operational Services team has allowed me to work with a diverse group of people and on challenging projects — ultimately making me a very happy employee! Change is constant. Don’t be afraid of it. You don’t want to be the person whose heels are in the mud when the wagon starts pulling you in different directions.

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At the same time, many countries around the world are diversifying their power portfolio to include nuclear, gas, and renewables. To meet the global energy demands of the next 20 years, we will need to generate 50% more power. This is our challenge at ArchTam – our call to action. We’re ready to answer this call.

Shifting Investments

In the U.S., there’s a significant shift of investment in the grid. This is being driven by a few factors – the need to harden against natural disasters, to upgrade an aging transmission and distribution infrastructure, and to realign energy delivery from large central station power plants to renewables and distributed generation, enhancing the resiliency of the grid.

Our Past Dictates our Future

Our power business has a long history of service and innovation in electric generation. Since our start as Thomas Edison’s Electric Bond and Share Company (EBASCO), we’ve designed and installed more of the world’s electric power capacity than any other company. Our amazing legacy doesn’t stop there. Through our Morrison Knudsen Construction Company heritage, we were a lead member of the Six Companies consortium that built the Hoover Dam. We were one of the original industrial partners in the Manhattan Project and built the first nuclear plants in Spain, Italy, Brazil, Mexico and Taiwan. Worldwide, we’ve engineered and/or constructed more than 280,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity –that equals more than one fourth of the generating power in the United States today.

This rich history combined with ArchTam’s global presence, financial footprint, and design-build-finance-operate capability provides us with all of the ingredients necessary to support globalization and expansion of electric power around the world.

Innovation Ahead

Our focus is to take the most advanced project delivery tools and integrate them into our project execution model. We strive to be among the first to deploy the newest technologies in power generation, energy delivery, and environmental stewardship to ensure we are in a position to fully leverage our project execution, design, and construction skills to serve our energy customers’ evolving needs.

As more and more countries expand their electric generation and distribution infrastructure to support their own economic development, we’re proud to contribute our skills to create vast networks that power the grid and feed sustainable energy into tomorrow.

People First

Of course our innovation is derived from our people. The individuals who make up our power business are our most valuable assets. Their depth of expertise and commitment to work safe and with innovative spirit is unparalleled. I am proud of what our teams do every day to help to deliver the power that energizes the world – without limits.

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The first few days here in Hyderabad have flown by in a flurry of bright colours, spicy food, and thousands of people wanting to take selfies and practise their English.

Pollinate Energy describes two separate businesses; Pollinate Energy Australia is a not-for-profit charity that fundraises and supports Pollinate Energy India. In India, Pollinators (locals employed directly by Pollinate Energy) sell sustainable infrastructure to their surrounding communities. As Young Professionals, we work to make this a profitable and successful business model, enabling it to take on new Pollinators and scale the business up, so its positive impacts are ever increasing.

The products supplied by Pollinate Energy are designed and marketed towards making a significant, positive impact on the lives of India’s urban poor. The business started with solar lights that replaced the kerosene lamps that are commonly used for lighting within India’s slum communities. These lamps were dangerous and un-healthy, not to mention expensive to run. Purchasing a solar light has meant many families have created a better future for themselves, and Pollinate Energy is now expanding its offering to include a solar-powered fan, water filters and a mobile phone.

Spending time in the communities has been an eye-opening experience. In Hyderabad alone, there are approximately 26,000 tents or huts in urban slums, 12 percent of which are without a connection to electricity mains. The solar light itself has been designed specifically for use within these communities, and many of the components that are commonly broken (for example, rats chewing through the cable) are easy to replace. The kerosene lamps cost approximately 350 Rupis per month for the kerosene. By contrast, purchasing a solar light, although a larger initial outlay, pays for itself in decreased fuel costs within the year. Further, the two-year warranty for each solar light ensures that there is a cost advantage.

The impacts of these solar lights are many. Whereas kerosene lamps fill rooms with smoke and fumes —unhealthy for both children and adults —the solar lights are clean and green; used for studying and working into the night, they create endless revenue opportunities for users without compromising on health or the environment. The lights don’t attract as many mosquitoes, deter snakes and provide increased security, not to mention additional family time once the sun goes down. Families that have purchased the solar lights are immensely proud of their new infrastructure, evident by the huge grins on their faces as they welcome us into their homes and talk about the positive impacts of having the light.

The Pollinators have established a rapport with the communities in which they work, and as a result there is great brand recognition, not only for a quality product, but also for support and service. As we walk into the communities to provide support to the Pollinators in the bright yellow Pollinate Energy shirts, children come running and adults greet us with a friendly smile.

I’m really excited about the work Pollinate Energy is doing here, creating a positive impact in the poorest of communities. Of the ten of us on the program in Hyderabad, three of us are from ArchTam (from Australia, New Zealand and California). There’s heaps of work to be done, and it feels good to get stuck in. I’m really excited to see what the next few weeks hold!

Beth Scott is a graduate engineer – Energy, based in ArchTam’s Auckland, New Zealand office.

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