Key Contacts

Dr Gary Preston is a Power Systems Engineer with extensive experience in power system modelling and analysis. Gary specialises in the area of electromagnetic transients and has carried out numerous fault, switching, and lightning studies using EMTP-ATP and PSCAD software to investigate fast and very fast transient phenomena. Gary has managed a wide range of technical projects, ranging from detailed power systems studies to innovation projects. He produces excellent reports and ensures that deliverables are produced on time, within budget, and to the highest standards in terms of quality.

Jeff has 21+ years’ experience as a Senior Network Planning Specialist at EirGrid and with his extensive knowledge of the all-island transmission system, has led some of EirGrid’s biggest challenges.

Most recently he was responsible for carrying out the grid analysis and project identification that underpins the Shaping our Electricity Future publications – designing a new analysis framework based on automation. Previously he developed the approach for the Tomorrow’s Energy Scenarios System Needs Assessment publications.

Jeff has been at the forefront of influencing how EirGrid develops the power system. Authoring and navigating governance requirements for numerous EirGrid transmission investment policies - including overhead lines, underground cables, substations (earth grid, transformer, busbar configuration) and economic appraisal. The most recent EirGrid planning (TSSPS) and operations (OSS) standards publications resulted from review work led by Jeff.

Xuecheng is is a power system specialist with over 30 years experience in power systems computation and analysis including bulk power systems modelling and simulations, power system steady state and dynamic analysis, power system security and stability assessment, network planning and strategy development, planning and security of supply standards and grid code compliance.

He has published several papers for IEEE transactions and conference, and has been involved as a regular reviewer in reviewing papers for IET Generation, Transmission and Distribution Journal. 

Kenneth works across TNEI’s practices in the UK and Ireland. He has over 6 years’ experience within the energy industry, including the completion of over 150 shifts as a Grid Control Engineer in EirGrid’s National Electricity Control Centre. Kenneth has extensive power system analysis knowledge developed through his time as an outage planner in EirGrid and also through his work in the National Control Centre. He has a proven track record in the delivery of complex strategic projects, which includes leading the delivery of the System Operations aspects of the Shaping Our Electricity Future consultation in EirGrid. Kenneth has also got detailed project management experience from his time with PwC, including successfully managing the setup of a new central monitoring solution for a large energy client with a budget in excess of €1.5m.

Matthew is a power system engineer with over 10 years’ experience. He has led the technical delivery of major international energy projects, including large offshore wind, HVDC interconnectors and industrial power projects. He has experience in all stages of the project lifecycle, from feasibility through to tendering, detailed design, construction, and commissioning. His specialisms include power system studies, HVDC and Grid Code compliance. He holds a Masters Degree in power systems engineering from Manchester University.

Etienne is a Principal Consultant employed by TNEI Africa since 2017 and is based in the Cape Town office in South Africa.

Etienne has a BEng (electrical and Electronic) degree from the University of Stellenbosch and has 10 years working experience in the power generation industry.

Etienne previously worked for the South African utility, Eskom for 5 years and AECOM one of the largest multi-disciplinary engineering firms for 3 years. 

Gemma has over 14 years’ experience working in the Environmental Consultancy Sector. Since joining TNEI in 2007, Gemma has primarily worked on wind farm noise projects.

She has been involved with all stages of development for initial feasibility assessments, base-line surveys, impact assessments through to assisting with collating information for Appeals and compliance monitoring.  

Zoë has a utilities background in generation and distribution, totalling 12 years. Zoë is able to draw on plant operations and asset management experience, as well as network planning, power systems analysis and generation integration.

With a passion for renewable energy and a post graduate qualification in sustainable energy systems, Zoë has been closely involved in South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and has experience in strategic and optimal grid integration of renewable generation at all voltage levels. 

Vijay is a senior consultant with over 10 years’ experience in the power sector. His experience includes network compliance studies, industrial studies and project management.

At TNEI Vijay has managed a vast number of renewable & conventional generations, Oil & Gas, STOR & battery storage sites and metro station projects.

His professional experience includes various power systems analysis studies- load flow, short circuit, transient stability, protection coordination, harmonics, arc flash studies.

Rashid is an electrical engineer with over 16 years professional experience in working in the field of power systems both in the UK and Internationally.

He has been involved with power system studies including load flow, fault level analysis, harmonic studies, P28 and reactive power capability studies for a number of wind farms and solar parks. He also has experience of carrying out fault-ride through and dynamic reactive power and voltage control studies for a number of onshore and offshore wind farms using DigSilent and PSSe.

Ryan joined TNEI in January 2022 and has over 15 years of planning experience. Ryan is working within the environment and engineering team in Newcastle, providing planning support on projects. Ryan is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute with considerable planning and environmental experience within the private sector.

Ryan’s skills and experience includes providing pre-application advice, input to feasibility studies, due diligence, appraisal of policies, submission of a wide variety of planning applications, preparation of Construction Environmental Management Plans, co-ordination, and management of multi-disciplinary teams for small and large scale projects, including EIA developments, and discharge of conditions.

Ryan has significant experience of EIA developments, particularly wind farms.  This has included providing inputs to feasibility studies, producing planning statements and design and access statements, writing planning policy chapters, and undertaking planning policy appraisals against development plans and other relevant policies and work to discharge conditions. He has also undertaken a number of socio-economic assessments for wind farms.

Jean-Louis has a broad range of experience in power systems studies including grid code compliance, insulation coordination and transient recovery voltage study.

Prior to joining TNEI, he spent more than twenty years professional experience in Electrical engineering including with ALSTOM, AREVA T&D and ALSTOM Grid where he held the position of Principal Research Technologist and gained the title Senior Expert in Power System and Electrical Machines. 

Chris is a Chartered Engineer, with 40 years experience in the electrical power industry, initially for 10 years with a large generator manufacturer, then including design of power station electrical distribution systems. He has particular experience in the design and setting calculation for power station and industrial protection systems and providing support for site commissioning teams. He is also experienced in the design of underground earthing systems for substations and other electrical installations using CDEGS software.

Dr. Houriyeh Shadmehr has over 8 years’ experience in electrical engineering and power systems at an Italian energy research centre (RSE) and Irish Transmission System Operator EirGrid.

She has a diversified skillset including experience in; studies of various aspect of the current and future operation of the power system, Very Low Frequency Oscillation (VLF) studies, Power Quality (PQ) and Harmonics. Houriyeh also has practical experience with software packages such as DSA Tool, Plexos, PSS/E, and scripting in Python

Ewan joined TNEI in August 2016. Since graduating from his academic studies and joining TNEI, Ewan has specialised in Environmental Acoustics work but has also drawn on a range of environmental and engineering experiences including environmental impact assessments, site finding and feasibility assessments and GIS mapping.

Ewan has worked on projects in sectors including onshore wind, offshore wind, oil & gas, residential, port services, conventional energy and low carbon transport.   

Sarah is primarily focused on the statistical modelling and analysis of power systems. Her academic background includes engineering, statistics and operational research, and her research has combined elements of each discipline to investigate a variety of power and energy systems problems.

Sarah has also spent time working in policy, undertaking a secondment to the Cabinet Office to work on academic collaborations with policy makers for data science projects within government.

Anrich is an electrical engineer specialising in the field of power systems. He holds a Bachelor’s (BEng) degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and a Master’s (MEng) degree (Cum Laude) in Electrical Engineering. He is registered as a PrEng Candidate with ECSA and is also a SAIEE member.

His knowledge areas span the fields of power generation, transmission and distribution, with a specialised focus in the renewable energy domain. Anrich pursued his Master’s degree in alignment with his passion for renewables and the grid integration thereof. His work has led to the publication of multiple conference papers. He has previous working experience as a consultant and has served multiple South African municipal power utilities as clients. He is proud to be joined with the team of power systems experts at TNEI in providing specialist energy consulting services to the international renewable and conventional energy sectors.

Hugh is a Technical Consultant having joined TNEI in March 2021 and provides technical advice to clients on energy related projects. Hugh holds a MEng in Civil & Transportation Engineering. Prior to joining TNEI, Hugh gained experience in the Construction & Civil Engineering sectors. Over Hugh’s 10 years in the Construction & Civil Engineering industries he has gained substantial site-based experience in construction management, project coordination, health & safety management, quality control and commercial management. Hugh has worked on some big projects over Scotland and Northern England, including as a construction site manager on a 22.5MW onshore wind farm and as a package engineer on the conversion of a coal fired power station to biomass.

Dr Mohamed Galeela is a Technical Consultant within the Networks & Innovation Team and has a 5 years of experience in electric power system research with main interest in reliability and resilience analysis of renewable rich power systems. Mohamed has a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester. The focus of his PhD was on advancing the current modelling of smart grid technologies from demand response (DR), OHL flexible ratings and Battery energy storage systems (BESS) to improve their impact on transmission network reliability.

Colum is a graduate technical consultant for TNEI Ireland with 1 years experience working on noise related assessments. Colum holds a Bachelors of Science in Geographical Planning & Environmental Policy and a Masters in Environmental Engineering.

For a given project, Colum will become involved during feasibility assessments, baseline surveys, impact assessments, in addition to compliance and complaints investigations. Since joining TNEI, Colum has primarily worked on wind farm noise projects (specifically site assessment, layout design, and noise and shadow flicker assessments), and his role involves the development of noise models, and the analysis of operational turbine data during compliance exercises. The purpose of this is to better understand the conditions in which noise is an issue.

Kaviya Sivaraman is a Power System Software Engineer working for the IPSA Software Team.She has over 2+ years of professional work experience in Java Development followed by six years of Academics Experience in the field of Power Systems and Smart Grids with a good understanding of the European Energy Markets. She also has significant experience working with developing tool kits and software required for Power System Engineering Domain.

James joined TNEI in August 2021 having graduated with a MSc in Urban and Regional Planning as well as a PgCert in Zero Carbon Engineering. James also holds a BA in History and Political Science and is currently a Licentiate of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

James has 1 years professional experience within the field of Planning and Development, providing assistance for a range of Development projects within Vancouver, CA, as part of a Planning Consultancy and Property Development Firm. He has begun to produce figures and planning documents as part of planning submissions and preliminary screening reports for a variety of projects being undertaken by the Environment and Engineering Team at TNEI.