Analyze the cascading impact of substation fires and master strategic planning techniques to ensure grid safety, reliability, and resilience.
Substations are arguably the most important land with critical electric equipment, such as power transformers, instrument transformers, breakers, capacitors, shunt reactors, switches, SCADA, and relays.
Generation switchyards, transmission substations, and distribution substations represent the pillars of civilization; few would argue that everyday life would not be impeded if suddenly faced with a lack of electricity.
Substations are expected to play a major role in the widespread impact of renewable energy. Substations and their associated grids are significantly affected by DERs, and in response, there have been measures implemented to prevent or minimize damage and ensure grid reliability. We will cover these damage prevention methods, as well as various substation bus designs and transformer failure scenarios. This course is a recording of a live webinar.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
CEO/Founder (2) | Utility of the Future Senior Lead | Adjunct Professor (3) | Author (6) | Board Member (9) | Speaker | Chair (2) | Coach | Trainer | Adviser
• Highly accomplished and results-oriented leader with over 20 years of experience in the energy and utility sectors. Proven expertise as a CEO/Founder of two international consulting companies, Electric Bridge Consulting and 100% Energy Club, demonstrating entrepreneurial drive and strategic vision. Extensive technical and business development acumen, including a strong focus on renewables, reliability, resiliency, load forecast/relief, electrification, R&D, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, climate change mitigation, and cybersecurity. A recognized thought leader and subject matter expert, actively contributing to the industry as an adjunct professor, published author, and board member for numerous influential organizations. • Key Highlights o Executive Leadership: CEO/Founder of two international consulting firms: Electric Bridge Consulting and 100% Energy Club. o Design Engineering: Accomplished engineering and design Leader with a career rooted in hands-on utility design and large-scale infrastructure execution. Professional foundation established at PEPCO, emphasizing field engineering and detailed electric utility design using AutoCAD and MicroStation to support distribution and customer projects while gaining direct exposure to construction practices and field operations. Continued technical progression at FirstEnergy, directing the engineering and design of capacitor bank and recloser installations to optimize system reliability, voltage control, and operational performance. Contributed to Con Edison’s dense urban grid through substation design support and load transfer planning, facilitating new substation development and complex system reconfigurations. At PSE&G, served as Principal Engineer, leading high-stakes utility design initiatives for major infrastructure programs, including 26 kV to 69 kV system conversions and the pioneering of technical frameworks for "Intelligent Touchless Substations." Consistently combines deep technical design expertise with system planning and innovation to engineer future-focused, resilient infrastructure on a global scale. o Artificial Intelligence Technical Lead: Expertise in identifying and implementing AI use-cases across the energy value chain, including safety, O&M reduction, productivity improvement, renewable and EV integration, efficiency enhancement, reliability and resiliency, and cybersecurity. Experience collaborating with AI start-ups and major vendors, supporting AI data center infrastructure and governance. o Business Development Expertise: Comprehensive experience in developing business plans and strategies, with a focus on asset life cycle (leveraging AI), natural gas utilization for load relief (fuel cells and CHPs), substation voltage reduction, transmission infrastructure, renewable-enabling grid technologies, smart grid technologies, transformer cooling, international benchmarking (3G Systems), and distribution system upgrades. o Clean Energy & Sustainability Advocate: Deep involvement in Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), smart inverters, control center optimization, clean energy initiatives (including the $4.1B Clean Energy Future), post-disaster energy resilience, 100% clean energy targets, non-wire/non-pipe solutions, demand response/virtual power plants/smart cities, and sustainability reporting. o Infrastructure Development & Modernization: Proven track record in substation design, electrification, and data center construction, microgrid implementation, data-driven investment strategies, system operations training, and international rural electrification projects. o Emerging Technologies & Innovation: Extensive knowledge of electrification, enterprise risk management, FERC Order 2222, distribution STATCOM, intelligent touchless substations, digital twins, post-AMI implementation, cybersecurity preparedness, customer transformation, and future policy/standard development. o Research & Development & Strategic Partnerships: Strong capabilities in conducting market research, developing strategic partnerships, and formulating innovative strategies. o Subject Matter Expertise & Thought Leadership: Served as a consultant, utility of the future lead, electrical engineer, R&D manager, and ESG climate champion. o Academic Contributions: Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, Rutgers University, and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT); Author of six books and 13 professional engineering (PE) courses. o Industry Engagement: Active board member for nine organizations, including Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) Research Advisory, NJIT Electrical & Computer Engineering School, NJAEE, Rutgers University, Pace University, Roosevelt Strategic Council, and Utility Analytics Institute. o Cybersecurity Leadership: Chair of the SEPA Cybersecurity Working Group and IEEE Emerging Technologies Advisor. o Mentorship & Advisory Roles: Experienced trainer, advisor, mentor, DEI and enterprise asset management leader, coach, speaker, and international start-up judge. o Extensive Utility Experience (Con Edison, PSE&G, PEPCO, First Energy): Over 20 years of progressive experience in field operations, transmission & distribution planning (long-range planning, Integrated Resource/Distribution Planning), design engineering, system operations, project management, training, smart grid modernization, DERs and EV grid integration, energy efficiency (DSM/DR), and Voltage/VAR Optimization. o Reliability & Resilience Focus: Expertise in T&D reliability, load forecasting and relief, emergency response, best practice benchmarking, enterprise risk management, industry disruption analysis, IT/OT integration, IT cybersecurity, agile systems, data analytics (ML/AI), and digital imagery applications. o Sustainability & Climate Change Mitigation: Deep understanding of sustainability initiatives, resiliency planning, climate change mitigation studies, carbon reduction strategies, microgrids, advanced grid management systems (DMS/ADMS/DERMS/EMS/AEMS/GMS), non-wire/non-pipe solutions, renewable natural gas (RNG), hydrogen technologies, methane detection, regulatory frameworks (FERC 841/1000/2222, transactive energy), and smart city technologies. o Comprehensive Energy Systems Knowledge: In-depth understanding of generation, transmission, sub-transmission, substations, distribution systems, and behind-the-meter technologies. o Regulatory & Policy Acumen: Experienced with electric rate cases, interactions with regulatory agencies (FERC, state commissions), OEM relationships, FEMA regulations, Mayor's and Governor's Offices, Department of Energy initiatives, and key legislation (President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill, IIJA, IRA, President Obama's stimulus). Familiar with major utility strategic plans (Con Edison's System of the Future/Utility 2.0, PSE&G's Clean Energy Future), state energy goals (NJ Governor’s), and regional grid operators (NYISO, PJM). o Technical Advisory & Project Leadership: Provided technical leadership and project management for significant initiatives, including PSE&G's Clean Energy Future, New Jersey's clean energy and energy storage mandates, intelligent substation and transmission projects, PSEG's net-zero and Race to Zero goals, climate change resilience planning, V2X technologies, DER interconnection strategies, and initiatives focused on reducing electric losses and modernizing gas infrastructure. o Change Management & Workforce Development: Experienced in leading change management initiatives and addressing the evolving needs of the energy workforce.
