Powerful Connections

Generation - The Beauty of BESS

In our season two finale, I spoke with Carl Haeussler, Director of Business Development at Brookfield Renewables (EVOLUGEN), and a good industry associate. We discuss generation at a high level with a focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). BESS has seen rapid growth in recent years. It is a simple concept for storing excess energy from a high voltage grid or local distribution network, and using it during peak times when energy rates are at their highest. BESS systems are complex, even though they are viewed as a stationary storage device. They can provide voltage regulations, frequency droop compensation, as well as functionality to black start grids during large outages. The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has been working on their long-term plans to find and allocate resources to meet the demand and needs of the future for Ontario. The IESO views BESS as the most cost-effective solution on the market that will taper electricity rates paid by Ontario residents and hopefully reduce those rates. There are no other technologies available on the market that are financially feasible enough, and have as low a public impact as BESS to support growth. It is one of the best solutions for grid stability. The need for power in Ontario is greater than it has ever been. BESS is necessary to facilitate the growth objectives set forth by the province. Key Takeaways: 1. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are good as a Peak Time Capacity reserve but are more complex than perceived. They provide voltage regulation, frequency droop compensation, and help to black start grids in times of major outages. 2. BESS operates at different voltage levels. It can be connected at 500 kV and 230 kV grid voltages as well as Utility scale installations from 34.5 kV to as low as 600 Volts. Find the right solution and design for your needs. 3. The value of BESS is revolutionary and is not optional in Ontario. IESO predicts energy demand in Ontario to grow by 75% by 2050. We need BESS as part of the energy solution. 4. From a grid stability standpoint, it is one of the best solutions. Find the opportunity to bring this solution to your system, customer, or project. Please subscribe to this podcast and connect with me on my website at DGG5Advising.com [https://dgg5advising.com/] or on LinkedIn at Dean G. Gatien [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deangatien]. Powerful Connections is produced by Story Studio Network [https://storystudionetwork.com/].

The Next 25 Years

In this episode, I had the pleasure of continuing the discussion from last episode with Brendon Fenton (VP, PowerNorth Utility Contractors Inc.) and his partner Nick Gatien (President, PowerNorth). We discuss the future of the high voltage industry and the next 25 years. Maintaining current customer as well as finding new opportunities to provide high level services. Being engaged early with long-time customers with constructability and details for planning to perform permitting, design, procurement, or construction planning. Building the organization is critical. Developing the talent in the office to make sure there are new key people in the business to take on more activities. Managing the capacity to service today’s responsibilities but see the long-term work to be able to respond to you client when they need you. The apprenticeship program in the company is a core investment being done. The importance of Business Development for the long-term is critical to your success. That includes understanding the Indigenous communities, leaders, and businesses. Find out what the stakeholders, landowners, and rights holders need. Getting engaged with customers at many levels including development, planning, risk review and deliver great services with high quality and safety. The enthusiasm with which the leadership and key supervision can time and time again interact with customers creates trust. Once the customer finds their service provider is an extension of them, the integration into ECI process, collaborative approach, and integrated project management helps de-risk a project and lead to successful outcomes. This leads to service agreements or review services for planning. Stay focused on what you do and what you are good at. Manage the specialty items you need to provide a complete project solution. Develop good relations with vendors, engineering, subcontractors to create teams with similar focus, values, and great performance. Develop the right team in the business to deliver a unique solution and compete at the highest level. Key Takeaways: 1. Maintaining current customer as well as finding new opportunities to provide high level services. 2. Managing the capacity to service today’s responsibilities but see the long-term work to be able to respond to you client when they need you. The importance of Business Development for the long term is critical to your success. 3. Getting engaged with customers at many levels including development, planning, risk review and deliver great services with high quality and safety. The enthusiasm with which the leadership and key supervision can time and time again interact with customers creates trust. 4. Once the customer finds their service provider is an extension of them, the integration into ECI process, collaborative approach, and integrated project management helps de-risk a project and lead to successful outcomes. 5. Stay focused on what you do and what you are good at. Manage the specialty items you need to provide a complete project solution. 6. Develop the right team in the business to deliver a unique solution and compete at the highest level. Please subscribe to this podcast and connect with me on my website at DGG5Advising.com [https://dgg5advising.com/] or on LinkedIn at Dean G. Gatien [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deangatien].

Resources

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Brendon Fenton (VP, PowerNorth Utility Contractors Inc.) and his partner Nick Gatien (President, PowerNorth). We discuss today’s issues with People, Equipment, Materials, and Resources in the high voltage business realm. Maintaining good working relationships with equipment vendors. The standard of equipment is important because the investment in the high voltage business is big. This is a difficult business to enter, let alone maintain. Planning with customers for procurement of items is critical. Leveraging the relationship with the customer for procurement of items is critical. It is a busy marketplace. Subcontractor onboarding is very key to finding organizations that share and align with the same values. Trust and relationship are the key to success. The conflict-free operations on a job are vital to delivering the outcome required. Successfully delivering results, project after project, especially in complex projects, is why we are successful. Building a strong team to join and grow the organization in a professional manner. Investing in our apprenticeship program resources to continue to get better to provide clients with well-rounded services. Key Takeaways: 1. Maintain good relationships with equipment vendors. 2. Establishing a standard of equipment is important because the to investment in your business is big. 3. Planning with Customers for procurement items is critical to the outcome, risk mitigation, and maintaining a schedule. 4. Find the subcontractors and service providers that meet your values and create the trust for a good working relationship. 5. Successfully deliver results especially in complex projects to meet your customer’s requirements, establish a long-term relationship, and create repeat business. 6. Invest in your apprenticeship program to build the resources to build a strong team to grow the organization in a professional manner. The goals and objectives are to provide your customer with well rounded list of services. Please subscribe to this podcast and connect with me on my website at DGG5Advising.com [https://dgg5advising.com/] or on LinkedIn at Dean G. Gatien [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deangatien].

Project Execution Planning

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Amélie Morissette (Senior Strategic Planning Manager) and Julie Turgeon (VP Construction) from INNERGEX. We review a number of points related to Project Execution Planning in the Energy Sector. The energy sector is experiencing unprecedented growth and the next ten years will see $100 billion+ per year in renewable generation. Managing the project execution, resources, materials, logistics, and most of all risks will be a challenge. Those that have the ability and experience will be successful in the delivery and creation of these new assets.  Canada and the United States are busier than they have been since WWII infrastructure development. We are beyond updating or upgrading systems. This is all of that and at the same time double and triple capacity while adding in new technology on the fly as it develops. Risk management is the most critical item and skill that project managers need and use. Implementing strategies to mitigate risk is the core of any project execution plan. Managing all the moving parts of cost, schedule, scope, design, procurement, and construction execution are all part of a project execution plan. Selecting and organizing the right Project Management Model is the key to a successful outcome. The three models we review are typical Engineer, Procure, Construct (EPC), Engineer, Procure,  and Construction Management (EPCM), and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). The later being a very good solution for complex projects that are developing and building with shared risk and reward. The benefit of collaboration with the key parties of Owner, Developer, Project Manager, Designer, and Contractor managing all aspects of the project in an open atmosphere. Key Takeaways: 1. Managing projects is complex and relies heavily on risk management and the ability of the key people involved to control the outcomes for a successful project.  2. The energy sector developments happening are massive, and the emerging technology has pushed the boundaries of risk mitigation in execution planning. Having the right project management plan for the scope of work is critical to the success of the project. 3. The tracking and managing of the four (4) Project Pillars (Charter, Budget, Schedule, Risk) are required for a clear picture of the ongoing project for successful outcomes. 4. The three main project delivery models are Engineer, Procure, Construct (EPC), Engineer, Procure, and Construction Management (EPCM), and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). The right solution will be developed during Project Execution Planning. Please subscribe to this podcast and connect with me on my website at DGG5Advising.com [https://dgg5advising.com/] or on LinkedIn at Dean G. Gatien [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deangatien].

AI - How Is It Transforming The Utility Industry?

In this episode, I speak with Rob McNeil (President, Composite Power) about the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the energy sector in grid transformation. There are three areas we cover in identifying impact: the business and operations of Composite Power, suppliers they represent, and their customers. The initial steps are to help customers deploy equipment to collect data, and the challenge is to evolve to implementation with the right vendors and technologies for customer business and operations. The outcome has to be accelerated change, adopting new system monitoring with the intent to make electricity more reliable and more affordable. With increases in capacity, there is going to be huge initial investment. At the end of the day, we should have more power, better information, more control, more reliability, and cheaper rates. The focus is productivity and cost. Power needs to be cheaper as well as more reliable. We need technology to drive efficiency. Key Takeaways: 1. The role of AI is increasing significantly and are improving the ability of system monitoring, control and operations. Good planning and implementation will make our systems better, safer, and cheaper. 2.  AI is having an impact on business in deploying tools to make operations more efficient. 3. The energy sector transitions to integrate AI in data collection and monitoring is accelerating quickly but there is still lots of work to do in utilizing ADMS, OMS, DERMS, etc. These developments are changing the opportunities for business, customers, utilities and suppliers. This is an opportunity that will benefit many. Find your place in the AI investment in our electrical systems. 4. In the huge increase in the scale of power required and being built we need technology to drive efficiency and reduce the cost of power. Please subscribe to this podcast and connect with me on my website at DGG5Advising.com [https://dgg5advising.com/] or on LinkedIn at Dean G. Gatien [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deangatien].