People Spotlight: Meet Ryan Butler
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we are highlighting our transmission and distribution engineer from Manchester, providing an insight into their inspiration and work.
Ryan Butler specializes in power system modelling, studies and grid compliance. He has worked on various large wind generation projects, battery energy storage systems (BESS) installations and various distribution networks from water treatment sites to data centers.
What inspired you to join the industry?
I felt that I could use my university knowledge in electrical engineering to contribute positively towards the energy transition. Climate change and global warming is an issue I am passionate about so having a career in this sector is something very important to me. The current energy sector is full of opportunities for green jobs and development in the area of net-zero and the energy transition. At AECOM, I am happy to be able to contribute to the growing development of renewable generation through my work as a T&D engineer.
At AECOM, I am happy to be able to contribute to the growing development of renewable generation through my work as a T&D engineer.
What is your favorite AECOM project that you’ve worked on and why?
I worked on Monk Fryston BESS in Leeds, United Kingdom, helping understand the limitations of the grid and the consequential possibility of curtailment of the plant. The original grid connection offer included a flexible period where the installations import and export capabilities could be significantly reduced due to capacity limitations on connected transmission infrastructure. My work helped assess the magnitude of the possible curtailment helping our client go from being pessimistic about the feasibility of the installation to being confident enough to invest and develop this key technology in the decarbonisation of the UK grid.
My work helped assess the magnitude of the possible curtailment helping our client go from being pessimistic about the feasibility of the installation to being confident enough to invest and develop this key technology in the decarbonisation of the UK grid.
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
My work, primarily in grid compliance studies, helps ensure the proper operation of a grid that is struggling to keep up with the rapid change in generation from synchronous generator-based fossil fuels to largely renewable inverter-based generation. The many technical challenges that come along with this process require careful assessment and design to ensure efficient and reliable operation of the grid while maximising the feasibility and usage of renewable sources. My work helps assess installations, prior to grid connection, to ensure they can connect without breaching any technical requirements. I have worked on a range of key technologies for the energy transition such as wind farms or battery energy storage systems that are now in operation providing clean power across Great Britain.
My work, primarily in grid compliance studies, helps ensure the proper operation of a grid that is struggling to keep up with the rapid change in generation from synchronous generator-based fossil fuels to largely renewable inverter-based generation.
Share a piece of career advice.
I am a strong believer that, to have a fulfilling career, it is important to do work that contributes meaningfully and positively to the world. I think it’s important to prioritise this highly. I feel privileged to work in an area like engineering, and with a company like AECOM, where I can steer myself towards the type of projects I feel are making a positive change for our communities and planet.