Thair Shaker Mahmoud
Austin
Summary
An expert power and control engineering professional with extensive and diversified international experience in the grid planning in under various market grid codes and guidelines such as in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. The grid planning experience is built from working with global consulting, manufacturing, utilities (NSPs and ISOs) and academic research organizations. The core skills of experience: 1. Grid Planning - Transmission: Transient stability analysis, protection, harmonics (AS/NZS 61000 and IEEE519) and Hosting Capacity - Distribution: DER interconnection, voltage profile, protection, fault rating studies, IBR settings (AS/NZS 4777 and IEEE 1547). Also helped with International System Operator Network (ISON) DER Architecture report. - Large Loads: Industrial large load dynamic studies models (Australian Mining Loads) and support of industry workgroups like ESIG and EPRI DCFlex 2. IBR Grid Interconnection Planning - Interconnection studies in planning, construction, commissioning and operation for IBR projects (OEM Global Experience) - IBR control model validation, benchmarking, site settings configuration and mapping - Wind, Solar and Hybrid plants control hands-on experience in configuration, site implantation, commissioning and online testing. - Wind turbine inverter setting configuration, model mapping and online testing. - Contribution to the development of IEEE2800.2 and help in drafting of number of NERC IRPS subcommittees work items: a) IBR Equipment Model Validation Whitepaper Work Item#27 b) Model Benchmarking and Unit Model Validation Whitepaper Item#6 c) Reliability Guideline: Recommended Approach to Interconnection Studies for BPS Connected Inverter-Based Resources Work Item#8 d) Reliability Guideline: Commissioning Best Practices IRPS Work Item #24 3. Power Systems Real-Time Operation Planning (AEMO control room experience) - Operation planning studies: contingency analysis based on EMS snapshots - Generation and Transmission Outage Coordination - Generation dispatch and Ancillary Services planning - Market operation modelling and analysis 4. Application of AI and Optimization in Grid Planning Transformation - Optimum AC Power (MW and MVAr) flow using various types of solvers - Multi-Agent System technology for optimum distribution power operation planning - Scripting PSSE and PSCAD simulation studies automation in Python
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Planning Engineering Lead
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
01.2023 - Current
- This planning role provides modelling and analysis of ERCOT's generation and load planning to maximize reliability of the power supply.
- The role includes advanced modelling and scripting tasks and translation of economic results into energy and ancillary service plans.
- - Help build IBR profile models based on operation data and IBR capabilities and plant site details data in Resource Integration and Ongoing Operation (RIOO) data.
- - Modelling and simulating system ancillary services requirements in the mid-term plan.
- - Using Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) data and modelling and forecasting their capacity factor contribution based on SCADA data using PI historian and Python.
- - Working with research and development at NREL and EPRI to using AI tools to respond to NERC enquiries about system reliability like modelling Distributed Energy Resources (DER) growth trend with Multi-Agent System technology and quantifying the future ramping needs on ERCOT using advance dispatch optimization tools like Aurora and InFLExion.
- Proof of concept projects: Optimum power flow (MW & MVAr) optimization for ERCOT PSSE model snapshots.
- White paper support: Integrated Reliability and Economic Analysis Tool.
- Experimental projects: ERCOT PSSE Power flow model snapshots automatic creation from EMS (PI data).
- Cross-functional support and industry engagement: Contribute to the development of IEEE2800.2 and the NERC IBR Commissioning Best Practices Work Items #6, #8 #24 and #27.
- Act as an EPRI DCFlex Initiative (Data Center Flexibility) advisor in Worksteam3 Grid Planning for Operational Flexibility.
- Contribute to the ESIG Large Load Task Forces Interconnection Process and Modelling Requirement.
- Provide technical and advisory level support from OEM experience perspective to ERCOT NOGR245 IBR setting change implementation process when required.
- Planning to support two PSERC research projects in 2026 on Adaptive, Large-scale Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Simulation and Toward Large-scale Data Center Integration: Flexibility, Stability, and Planning.
Adjunct Associate Professor
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
03.2020 - Current
- Providing advisory support to School of Engineering research projects and liaison with industry.
- Linking industry with universities and supervising PhD, MEng and BEng final year students.
- PhD thesis titled "Smart management strategies of utility-scale energy storage systems in power networks".
- M Eng thesis titles "Significance of battery energy storage systems in mitigating the challenges in weak grids".
- PhD thesis (currently in process). Recent publication.
Associate Professor of Practice
Monash University
05.2020 - 05.2023
- Providing technical support to Monash Grid Innovation Hub research projects and RACE for 2030 program which aims at accelerating the transition to reliable, affordable and clean energy for Australia in 2030.
- Https://www.racefor2030.com.au
Power Systems Specialist
Vestas
12.2019 - 12.2022
- Being part of Vestas APAC and a member of world class team of power systems experts, this role is responsible for leading grid interconnection process for wind farms and Hybrid Energy Parks with 18 Network Service Providers and three Electricity Markets in Australia and New Zealand.
- - Managing grid interconnection studies and conducting due diligence analysis on wind farm model performance under various market rules and grid conditions.
- - Being part of experienced specialists covering projects in the region, reporting the market requirements to global R&D groups for supporting customized wind turbine design and enhanced inverter & configuration of Vestas Hybrid Power Plant Controller (HPPC) optimized dispatch performance.
- - Proposing parks control strategy and implementing novel voltage control and active power dispatch configuration when required.
- - Mapping simulation model study results with site hardware parameter settings and performance through a comprehensive PPC and WTG testing procedure.
- - Liaising with global R&D, modelling and grid interconnection hubs in Singapore, India, Portugal and Denmark to provide grid modelling and simulation support to grid interconnection process.
- - Dealing with complicated project problems, optimizing project-specific enhanced capability and facilitating improvement via the Input Signal Management (ISM) process.
- Training attended during this role: Challenger is one of the key offerings of the Commercial Development Curriculum, based on the principles of the Vestas Value Wheel.
- From this role, managed to complete the following Vestas projects: 317 MW, Port August Hybrid Energy Park, South Australia, AUSTRALIA.
- 221 MW, Turitea Wind Farm, NEW ZEALND.
- 336 MW, Dundonnell Wind Farm, Victoria, AUSTRALIA.
- 214 MW, Yandin Wind Farm, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
- 180 MW, Warradargre Wind Farm, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
- Enhanced Short-Term Forecasting Accuracy Project, AUSTRALIA.
- 156 MW, Kaban Wind Farm, Queensland, AUSTRALIA.
- 108 MW, Waddi Wind Farm, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
05.2016 - 04.2019
- Working closely with researchers targeting microgrids grid interconnection planning related research projects like the PhD thesis co-supervision on battery energy storage in microgrids.
- Https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Fuzzygrey_wolf_optimization_for_energy_storage_sizing_and_power_management_in_microgrids/23251940?file=40976171
Senior Power Systems Consultant
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
07.2018 - 01.2019
- This role is providing consulting services to major Australian renewable energy grid interconnection projects.
- The role included managing clients and generator interconnection application/negotiation with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Network Service Providers (NSPs).
- - Performing IBR grid interconnection studies using various type of software i.e. PSSE, PSSSINCAL, PSCAD/EMTDC, DIgSILENT PowerFactory to ensure compliance with the grid code.
- - Conducting Transmission network Hosting Capacity analysis.
- - Managing project tasks and delivering tasks under tight managed budget.
- Experience in projects: 400 MW, New England Solar Farm, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA.
- 12 MW, Carag solar Farm, Victoria, Australia.
- Training courses attended in this role: PSCAD EMT studies include support to IBR interconnection by Manitoba Hydro International.
Senior Power Systems Security Engineer
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)
11.2016 - 07.2018
- In this role, working in a control center environment, with interactive link to the Wholesale Electricity Market, was responsible for performing operation planning for the Transmission and Generation system.
- The daily tasks of this role include:
- - Development and implementation of Constraint Equations based on limit advice identified or provided by Network Service Providers in managing the electricity market and security of the system at minimum cost.
- - Applying modelling and programming (Python/DLS) skills in conducting power system studies (steady-state and dynamics) which includes N-2 contingency analysis, short circuit (fault level and network switching), optimum power flow, transfer limits, voltage recovery, rotor angle stability and frequency response.
- - Conducting real-time power system security studies using GE XA21 Energy Management System (EMS) and Transmission Security Management (TSM) snapshots.
- - Development of dispatch plans including outage assessment of scheduled generation, lines and busbars, fuel implications, assessment of long, medium- and short-term Resource Adequacy Planning, planning of Ancillary Services requirements, unit-commitment, commissioning plans and security limits identification against potential forecasts.
- Training courses attended in this role: Energy Market Structure, Transmission Network Operation and Control, Power System Stability Analysis by Dr Prabha Kundur.
- Secondment Role - Acting Dispatch Control Center Manager (Dec 2017- Jan 2018) Managing AEMO's Western Australia power system generation controllers responsible for power system security and dispatch control of the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS) in Western Australia.
Transmission Networks Planning Engineer
Western Power
09.2015 - 11.2016
- In this role, the duties included provision of modelling, simulation and analytical solutions for the Transmission system in south of Western Australia.
- - Performing Large Load Modelling and performance validation.
- - Modelling, simulation and analytical solutions of the wind and solar farms inverter controllers as well as STATCOMS and Static VARs Compensators (SVC).
- - Network modelling, simulation, contingency analysis, optimum power flow and constraint solutions and simulation events automation (scripting using PowerFactory DSL, DPL/Python) and/or Matlab Simulink SimPowerSystem.
- - Identifying thermal and stability limits and providing control center with limit advice.
- - Conducting fault level studies and modelling protection schemes.
- Training courses attended in this role: Reactive Power Management and Voltage Control in Power Systems, Scripting PowerFactory with Python, Driver Training and Education (How to operate a commercial vehicle).
Interconnection Planning Engineer (Secondment)
Western Power
01.2015 - 09.2015
- Leading the distribution grid interconnection planning of Garden Island Microgrid project in Western Australia.
- The project aims at delivering power to Garden Island through the installation of the new wave energy commercial product platform CETO6 from Carnegie Clean Energy.
- SMA inverters and Tesla batteries were installed in this project.
- Carnegie Clean Energy is a leader in the wave energy technology located in Fremantle in Western Australia.
- Experience in projects: https://arena.gov.au/projects/garden-island-microgrid-project/, https://www.carnegiece.com/portfolio/garden-island-microgrid-wa/
Distribution Networks Planning Engineer
Western Power
11.2012 - 01.2015
- Accountable for the provision of planning solutions and scope of work for the customers (loads/generators) interconnection to the grid.
- - Work planning reports including interconnection option analysis and cost estimation.
- - Exporting and non-exporting generators (solar, wind, storage, gas, diesel and wave-based generators <10MW) grid interconnection studies e.g. voltage and frequency control and protection and control design i.e. PLCs and relays.
- - Short-circuit and fault contribution studies and feeder Circuit Breaker and Recloser grading and settings.
- Training courses attended in this role: Business writing skills, Negative sequence protection, Contract Management Framework, Introduction to IEC 61850, Reliability and network optimization using PowerFactory, Advance MS-Excel macro development and VBA programming skills.
Education
PhD - Energy Management Systems
Edith Cowan University
AUSTRALIAMSc - Control and Automation Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
MALAYSIABSc - Control and Systems Engineering
University of Technology
Baghdad, IRAQProfessional Course - AI: Business Strategies and Applications
University California, Berkeley
USASkills
- IBR Interconnection
- Power System Analysis
- Wind
- Solar
- Hybrid Power Plants
- PSSE
- PSCAD
Affiliations
- IEEE Senior Member
- IEEE Standards
- Engineers Australia Professional Registered Engineer
Training
- PowerGEM TARA
- Power System Stability Analysis by Dr Prabha Kundur
- Real-time dispatch and generation planning (frequency and voltage control)
- Reactive Power Management and Voltage Control in Power Systems Master Course
- Control and Automation: S7 Siemens and Omron PLC
- Power Systems DSL Stability Analysis: DIgSILENT PowerFactory
- Python for PowerFactory: DIgSILENT PowerFactory
- SCADA: Citect SCADA, Schneider PLC (Unity pro) and HMI
Publications
- Overview of energy storage systems in distribution networks: Placement, sizing, operation, and power quality, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118301606
- Optimal placement of distributed energy storage systems in distribution networks using artificial bee colony algorithm, Applied Energy, 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261918311358
Awards
- Endeavour Scholarship, Australian Government, 2009
- Research Grant for Article's Open Access, Edith Cowan University (ECU), Perth, Australia, 2019
Timeline
Planning Engineering Lead
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
01.2023 - Current
Associate Professor of Practice
Monash University
05.2020 - 05.2023
Adjunct Associate Professor
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
03.2020 - Current
Power Systems Specialist
Vestas
12.2019 - 12.2022
Senior Power Systems Consultant
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
07.2018 - 01.2019
Senior Power Systems Security Engineer
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)
11.2016 - 07.2018
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
05.2016 - 04.2019
Transmission Networks Planning Engineer
Western Power
09.2015 - 11.2016
Interconnection Planning Engineer (Secondment)
Western Power
01.2015 - 09.2015
Distribution Networks Planning Engineer
Western Power
11.2012 - 01.2015
PhD - Energy Management Systems
Edith Cowan University
MSc - Control and Automation Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
BSc - Control and Systems Engineering
University of Technology
Professional Course - AI: Business Strategies and Applications
University California, Berkeley