In this episode we speak with Dr. Simon Gill, Head of Whole System & Technical Policy in the Directorate of Energy & Climate Change at The Scottish Government.

Simon talks about his motivations relating to climate change and his career route into clean energy and technical policy. He outlines the many aspects of clean energy policy and the system issues being considered by the Scottish Government as well as his hopes for COP26.

Simon also speaks about the clear vision and unique resources in Scotland that help it be a leader in clean energy including ambitious targets, renewable energy resources, renewables deployment experience and innovation, including hydrogen.

Simon talks about architecting a coherent whole energy system. Balancing and securing the whole energy system and decarbonizing the system operability services such as black start are highlighted as crucial challenges in the energy transition. Timely and efficient investments in network infrastructure and flexibility are noted as examples of the need for good cooperation between different agencies.

About our guest

I provide a cross-cutting perspective on the energy system to Ministers and policy teams across Scottish Government. Decarbonising the energy system involves major engineering challenges and opportunities. I help ensure these are reflected in the policy making process. I have a particular focus on the electricity and gas systems, but I also support teams dealing with issues including low carbon heat, decarbonizing transport, fuel poverty, economic development, planning and many more.

I joined Scottish Government in 2017 after spending nine years at the University of Strathclyde working in the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department and focusing on electricity network innovation and research. I worked on several innovation project including: the NINES project with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks which successfully increased the capacity of renewable capacity that the Shetland electricity network was capable of hosting, and the ARC project with SP Energy Networks which delivered Active Network Management in Southeast Scotland.

As a ClimateXChange Research Fellow researching security of electricity supply in Scotland.

My work at Strathclyde led on from a PhD in electricity engineering at the same institution which focused on maximising the benefit of distributed wind generation through Active Network Management, energy storage and demand flexibility.

Before all of that I taught high school physics in the north of Scotland after completing a PGCE and an undergraduate degree in Astrophysics.

About Us

Smarter Grid Solutions is a leading enterprise energy management software company operating internationally from bases in the UK and US.

Smarter Grid Solutions’ DERMS products are used by distribution utilities, energy service companies and microgrid operators to manage grid capacity and resilience and to seamlessly integrate energy assets to the grid and market. Its software already manages over 400 MW of distributed energy resources around the world and has saved customers over $300 million in grid upgrades.

If you’d like to find out how our smart energy management products help clean energy developers to add value and push towards net zero then visit us at: www.smartergridsolutions.com