Sunil Verma

Sunil has 20+ years of experience working and managing on a range of power system projects with Jacobs Australia, SKM Australia, ABB India and ABB USA. Sunil’s roles comprise developing project execution methodology, conducting reviews, managing customer expectations, coaching engineers, managing project teams and providing technical solutions and support to engineers/consultants. Sunil has worked in various capacities ranging from a study engineer to a technical lead through to section manager.

His projects include electrical network studies, asset modelling and simulations, grid compliance evaluation, assessment of network interconnection of conventional and renewable generation, front-end engineering studies, project commissioning and construction support, concept planning and strategic advice. Sunil has experience working on projects in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, India and the USA. Sunil has been engaged for numerous grid performance studies in Australia assessing compliance with NEM and Western Power technical rules.

Sunil also has hands-on expert level knowledge utilising power system simulation software like PSSE, PSCAD, PowerFactory, ETAP and PTW.

Areas of Expertise

•Concept design for power station connections

•Technology selection for renewables and battery storage

•Generation performance studies and connection processes in Australian networks

•Generator controller parameter modelling and tuning

•Battery storage sizing, parameter tuning and control concept development

•Industrial network studies including underfrequency load shedding and islanding design •Switchboard arc hazard and protection system studies     

Hardus is a Lead Electrical Engineer with 25+ years of extensive technical engineering expertise in the field of generators, transformers, transmission switch yards, power generating plants, generator and transmission protection system and generator automatic voltage regulation systems.

He has worked as a Chief Engineer in the field of Protection and AVR’s on a large range of power plants projects for Eskom (Gas, Steam, Nuclear, and Hydro) plants. Hardus relocated to Perth in 2009 and worked as a Senior Electrical Engineer at SKM responsible for primary and secondary system plant designs. He managed the design of a breaker and a half 132kV substation for SKM and moved into the role of Construction and Commissioning Engineer. He joined Horizon Power as a Project Execution Manager leading a team for the delivery of major commercial projects in the NWIS.

Hardus has completed a 7-year Rio Tinto secondment with SKM/Jacobs as the Lead Electrical Engineer for the Power System Upgrade projects. He led a team of Electrical Engineers and Managed all engineering aspects associated with delivering EPCM and EPC projects for Rio Tinto. These projects included several LM6000 OCGT power stations, 220kV switchyards (AIS and GIS), substations, transmission lines and substation protection refurbishment projects. He managed grid compliance for Rio Tinto generator connections and managed internal engineering design teams for the Power System Upgrade (PSU) projects. 

He has completed various grid compliance tests for customers related to thermal generator plants and renewable energy (Wind and Solar) farms and is currently a Principal Consultant and Technical Leader in Generation and Protection systems for Future Grid Connect Consulting. 

Areas of Expertise

•Generators and Power Station Systems Designs

•Automatic Voltage Regulators for Generators

•Switchyard and Transformer Protection System Designs

•Generator Secondary Protection Designs

•Primary HV Plant Specifications and Designs

•Grid Compliance Tests for Generators

•Commissioning Engineer

•Project Manager

Duncan has over 20 years of experience in remote islanded and NWIS connected power generation in the Kimberley, Goldfields, MidWest and Pilbara region of Western Australia. He has extensive experience in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and commissioning of gas turbines and reciprocating gas and diesel engines connected to remote islanded networks. Duncan has further managed projects involving renewables. 

Duncan was previously the operations manager of 16 remote power stations throughout Western Australia and South Australia. He was responsible for managing the day to day operations, optimisation and electrical maintenance for the 16 plants. The plant he was responsible for included biogas fuelled engines, natural gas engines, diesel engines, gas turbines and wind turbines. During the period of this engagement, Duncan initiated and managed projects to integrate base loaded units into overall station load following system, oversaw implementation of a revised protection scheme for 6 power stations and resolved ongoing and long term problems which had plagued the operation of a gas turbine.

Recently Duncan was responsible for the project and commissioning management of an LM6000 open cycle unit and 220kV switchyard bay extension and the mechanical package management, site engineering and commissioning coordination for a 143MW combined cycle power station. The open cycle unit included management of the modelling and R2 testing of seven previously connected units in addition to the unit installed as part of the primary project.

Duncan has additional skills in development of database and software solutions tailored for the industry in the areas of operations optimisation and analysis, construction systems and documentation systems.

 Areas of Expertise

•Multi-discipline expertise

•Gas turbine, gas engine and diesel engine projects

•Database and software system solutions development