{"id":14574,"date":"2023-08-31T13:52:16","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.res-group.com\/chanura-wijeratne-teamrenewables\/"},"modified":"2023-08-31T13:52:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:52:16","slug":"chanura-wijeratne-teamrenewables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.res-group.com\/sv\/chanura-wijeratne-teamrenewables\/","title":{"rendered":"Chanura Wijeratne – #TeamRenewables"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our team at RES work together to produce as much clean energy as possible, and every team member has a part to play. Our energy networks team, however, are the ones that make sure the renewable projects we build are connected to the grid, to help us keep the lights on. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this Team Renewables, we speak to Chanura Wijeratne, Energy Networks Lead at RES. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Role <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chanura is the energy networks lead for the UK and Ireland. He helps delivery teams in both development and construction by looking at grid connections on each of the projects. <\/span><\/p>\n

Career Journey <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chanura is a chartered electrical engineer, and gained a Master\u2019s degree in Power Systems Engineering from Manchester University. His career spans the globe \u2013 working as an apprentice in Tunisia, a lead engineer for building installation projects in Sri Lanka, a production engineer in Slovakia and working in industrial distribution systems projects in UK before joining RES. <\/span><\/p>\n

Chanura has been with RES for nine years, so how has his role developed?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy role has naturally grown into what it is. When we think about power systems, we used to think about large coal power plants \u2013 but not anymore. The power system we thought about 20 years ago is completely different now, which brings new challenges for network operators and renewable energy developers.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Chanura sits in the four-strong energy networks team, who look at different aspects of network development; Chanura\u2019s focus is on supporting grid connection, compliance and delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A Day in the Life<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What does a typical day in the life look like for Chanura? <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur projects, whether they are solar, wind or battery, need to connect to the grid. My primary task is to ensure our projects get connected to the grid on time in a cost effective and efficient manner. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI support the project teams to build a grid connection \u2013 often 10 or 20km \u2013 which takes a lot of organisation, logistics and managing relationship with grid companies.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The nature of the role is very dynamic. Chanura usually has 10-15 projects on his books at any one time, so \u2013 as with most members of the RES team \u2013 no two days are ever the same. <\/span><\/p>\n

One day, he could be dealing with a highly technical issue, project managing or even resolving a challenge facing the property team. As such, Chanura works with a number of stakeholders on a daily basis, from National Grid to distribution companies and construction contractors.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe develop renewables projects and then once we get consent to build, we sell it to different investors. After that, it is the investor\u2019s asset, but we tend to retain the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) and operation of the project.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How does grid connection help energise projects? <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

RES builds grid connection to grid company specification and handover at the energisation phase. Becoming an Independent Connection Provider (ICP) helps to bring down the cost and manage project delivery risks. Getting grid headroom when there are so many renewables projects being built is a key challenge for renewable energy developers nowadays. <\/span><\/p>\n

Grid Code compliance is an integral part of the role and of paramount importance before any project goes online. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you take a car, for example, you can\u2019t just put that on the road. You have to do simulations and road tests to ensure acceleration, brakes etc are right, because it would be a risk putting a car on the road without the appropriate tests. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the same as connecting a generator. The lights need to stay on, so a new generator should meet on the necessary standards before connecting to the grid. Simulation tests and supporting technical documentation allow us to demonstrate to authorities that the functionality and capability of renewables projects meet the Grid Code requirements before connecting them. Once connected, we\u2019ve got to prove it once again by operating them in real-time.\u201d <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Chanura is one of the key drivers of Independent Control Point delivery aspect of the business. RES recently completed its first major project, building 13km of grid connection with a mix of overhead and underground cables. Working with the DNO technical authorities and partners to develop and type test a brand-new overhead line design and increased the standard 33kV overhead line capacity by 60%.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a huge achievement for RES as well as the industry as a whole. We challenged the traditional approach of DNOs and worked collaboratively to come up with a design that reduced cost while maintaining the safety. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is hoped that this will be the standard for future projects; there\u2019s lots of learning from that.\u201d <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The best part of the job<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What does Chanura enjoy most about his job? <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe dynamic nature of my role helps keep me motivated and enjoying my job. I also enjoy working with various teams to find solutions to problems. Having a problem in front of you and then putting together specialist teams to implement the solutions in real life is really rewarding.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

The future of renewables <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, the key challenge of the time was how to generate electricity and how to distribute it. Look at where we are now!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe power system has developed massively in the 140 years since then. Some of the basic challenges that were around in Edison\u2019s time have changed shape but remain the same, and there are new twists to deal with, as well as new options and technology to help us get around them.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe question we now face is how best to cleanly generate electricity, store it and distribute it in a world with increasing energy needs. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThese challenges and how we respond to them \u2013 from connecting electric vehicle chargers to commissioning new solar or wind projects \u2013 drive how we achieve net zero and with RES I\u2019m looking forward to playing my part in helping us get there.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our team at RES work together to produce as much clean energy as possible, and every team member has a part to play. Our energy networks team, however, are the ones that make sure the renewable projects we build are connected to the grid, to help us keep the lights…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[236,324],"tags":[],"region":[],"content_type":[325],"class_list":["post-14574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-foretags","category-people-sv","content_type-manniskors-berattelser"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nChanura Wijeratne - #TeamRenewables - RES<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.res-group.com\/sv\/chanura-wijeratne-teamrenewables\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"sv_SE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chanura Wijeratne - #TeamRenewables\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our team at RES work together to produce as much clean energy as possible, and every team member has a part to play. 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