Hello, welcome, and thanks for listening to Carbon Climates, an energy podcast dedicated
to discussing all things energy, carbon, and sustainability. We also like to talk about
what's getting hot, besides from our planet. I'm your host, Enya, and today I'm joined
by my carbon client, I'm co-host Margaret. Hi Margaret. Hi Enya, how are you? Good,
what about you? Yeah, all good, all good, thanks. That's one of the questions that always kind of
throws me, it's like, how are you? I'm like, oh my goodness, you just took me. So what are you doing
this week? What have you been up to? So this weekend, I enjoyed the long weekend off.
I definitely get used to the four day week time. But yeah, so I've just been busy, I was in the
office today, had a site meeting and then just came back to do this. So I've been really busy
on project work. This is your Monday, okay. Yeah, this is my Monday. Okay, and so your job title,
did you, like I know what it is, but I know I'm going to like, you know, put the placement of
some names like in the wrong place, but yeah, please explain. So I'm a transmission design
engineer with NIE networks. So yeah, the title might not be. So I'm basically responsible for
designing the transmission network and the electricity infrastructure here in Northern Ireland.
So whether that be replacing new equipment, whether that be replacing old equipment,
updating the protection schemes or facilitating like new customer high voltage connections on the
electricity network here as well. Wow. So it's like, it's just like your job, like, you know,
see, like, it's so out there, like it is so like, I can just imagine you're like in lots of different
places and everything. And like, where's my job? I'm at computer. Definitely, I know, I suppose
like that's probably the best part of my job, like actually being able to have the flexibility
with the project work as well to go out on site, be in the office and like see a job from start
to finish. So we would be involved right away through from like initial designs through to
like pricing, ordering up equipment, doing all the design drawings, being on site during the
testing, commissioning, construction phases, and then also like seeing the project completion as
well. So it's like really satisfying to actually see and be involved in part of a project that you
can bypass the sub station like to design that if you check or draw my names on that somewhere.
So it's really a lot. I love stuff like that, like one of the things that has my name on it,
I'm an energy assessor. So, you know, APC certificates for the like ABCD certificate you
get for your house, if you're buying one, I'm able to lodge those and my names on some of them. So
I'm like, guys, look what I did. And I see most people who don't know what APCs are, they're like,
okay, what is that? And I'm like, where's your job? No, this is by the way.
But that's no, that's brilliant. Thanks for saying about your job title. So how long have you been
in this sector? So I suppose I kind of first started when I was, I started a lot of electronic
engineering at Queen's back in 2014. I started in September 2014, which is a bit scary coming up
with a 10 year anniversary. But I suppose when I first started studying the course,
NI Networks came in and did a presentation about a scholarship. So I was actually lucky enough to
get through the application process and get a scholarship with NI Networks. So as part of that,
I had the opportunity to do several summer placements and my year I placed my degree,
which actually really helped, like not just the financial side, obviously as well. But the
experience that I gained through that was incredible. And being rotated around different
parts of the company, meeting different people, being involved in different projects, actually
working in different departments to see what I really enjoyed doing. I really found that I
enjoyed the mix of being out on site and in the office. So that really helped and also really
helped. I think, well, I think we're back into university studying again, to help to put in
perspective what we're really learning in class, whether that be like fault calculations or like,
here's a transformer. And I'm like, well, I'm sure I'm missing one place and I actually haven't seen
a transformer. And like, yeah, so I'm huge. Oh, wow. So I really was really good and put that
into perspective and help with my studies as well. Very good. I always find you have a practical
experience, like honestly, the most important thing. Yeah, definitely. That's so hard to be.
So then whenever I finished university, I got a graduate job with NI Networks and the engineering
design department, which I'm now currently in as well. So it's a really, really good job and I
really enjoy it. And so the best part would be like actually working with the different departments.
Like we're such a big company here in Northern Ireland and we've been involved in projects like
right across Northern Ireland. So you can be in Ennisfil in one day up to Campsday, back to
Belfast, all over the place. And I really enjoy that aspect of being out and about as well.
It's very good. Yeah, I'm sure you meet a lot of people. Like, absolutely.
I feel like a lot of people know me as well. That we were a head girl.
So, say when you were at school, like secondary school, did you ever
envisage yourself in this role like this? I suppose in secondary school, absolutely not.
Did I think I'd be designing some electricity infrastructure here in Northern Ireland? People
like to be responsible. Absolutely not. I suppose I knew I kind of always, I love technology. It's
my absolute favourite subject. I knew I kind of wanted to do something along that lines.
And I suppose I was probably very fortunate that I have an older brother and some family who did
engineering as well. So I kind of knew a bit about engineering, but I wasn't really sure what type.
And then I went to open days at Queen's and electrical engineering.
I kind of just thought that seems pretty cool. Seen around the power lab.
And I was like, wow, this is really cool. But yeah, I didn't really think that I was going to do
electrical engineering probably until that point, I would say. Probably lower upper tip.
Before that, I probably wanted to do pharmacy for a bit. And then also wanted to work in a shop
and do the stand for the big shop. Yeah, very mixed. But no, glad I did. Glad I decided to
choose engineering. And I suppose my work experience as well. So I had a couple of
different work experiences. When I was in probably right way throughout school as well,
from fourth year, fifth year. And it's also good to kind of really what you don't want to do as
well. Definitely. So I think that's as important as knowing what you want to do.
Yeah, because then you're like never wondering. But yeah, like I've said a couple of times on
this podcast, but kind of didn't dawn on me to like maybe A level age that like, so I wanted to
be a zoologist, like work with animals. Okay. And I picked the biology GCSE, picked the biology A
level. I wasn't good at it. Like I just get me straight to C. And then it's kind of like, okay,
maybe like you're saying yourself, technology, technology like called to me and like, okay.
And then I was able to get into Ulster University and do a clean technology course. So it's amazing
that like, you know, just like the directions that go, it's kind of like sliding doors, like, you know.
Absolutely. I think it's even like the subject choice as well, it's about how you approach
problem, like so transferable skills. I think you can go, if you study engineering at all in any
shape or form, like it really shows you're a problem solver. You're an analytical thinker.
You're good at communicating. Like all the skills are transferable no matter like what kind of role
you end up going into. Maybe not just the technical side, but actually like yeah, nothing really.
No, just right. Just right. Okay. Thank you for introducing yourself. Okay. So before we move on
to the hard hit and stuff, okay. I've got a joke for you. Okay. It is long winded. So please bear with me.
Okay. So, and you know what? You're going to be the person who's going to tell me,
and yeah, that doesn't make sense. Okay. But like, I kind of piece this together from the
internets. Okay. So the electrical engineers enter a lab. One measures a piece of wire at
six mil and cuts it off. He then turns to the other engineer and asks, here, can you help me
isolate the end of this to circuit? The other one goes, oh, well that'll be a waste of time.
And the first engineer asks why and the second one responds, because it will be dead short.
So you can keep that. You can tell that to your friends.
I'll write them off. Make it into that one. Yeah.
Okay. So you are a design transmission engineer and you work at NIE networks. So NIE networks,
owns and transports electricity transmission to over 910,000 customers. 910. You know, when you
see a number, it's like, hold on, did I say that right? But yeah, 910,000 customers. So your company
has over 1500 employees and over a hundred million is invested into the network. I'm pretty sure it's
each year. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I am. It is each year, but the bit of research, I forgot to take
that down, but yeah, I'll look into that. A lot of money. So I'm thinking a lot about NIE networks.
They also have their own sustainable auction plan. So by 2030, they want to reduce their building
and fleet emissions by 50% compared to the 2019 levels, which is really great. And that's like a
really close, like 2019 to 2030, that's only 11 years. So yeah, that's just some good targets.
But yes, so back to you. Okay. So you're a design transmission engineer.
Can you tell me, what do you love most about your job?
So I suppose that's a really hard question. I really enjoy, like I love working with the team,
like working with people is a real privilege, I'd say. And like actually getting involved
in different projects and seeing from start to finish, being out on site and being involved and
knowing that I've helped to contribute to projects. Actually, you can see a difference and it's making
a valuable contribution to like Northern Ireland and people of Northern Ireland as well. As you
said, like there were 910,000 customers here. Like I think everybody probably in some shape or form
knows who NIE networks are. And if your electric goes off, like it's our responsibility, you know,
to ensure that it's really minimized as far as possible. But no, it's really great. And like it
is a very exciting time within the company, within the sector as well. Like there's so many new
different types of energy coming onto the network and we're going to have to be smarter about how
we do things in order to meet all these targets. So it is actually really exciting and we're going
to have a lot of change and things that we haven't even thought about yet that we're going to have to
implement the time 2050 comes. Yeah, that's the thing. Like every time that's mentioned the 2050
target, I'm like, oh yeah, it's years away. I'm like, it's not really. It's actually not.
It's like, we'll probably see it. And then we're like, oh flip, we're here. Like scary.
But yeah, you're talking at the beginning about you guys, you were able to see a project from
Infancy to like the actual like real life like, you know, version of it. But do you like that bit,
like seeing a project come to life? Absolutely. Absolutely. I think I'm a very visual learner
and being able to say, I actually see physical construction while they're like, it's the design
that I've done on a piece of paper through, that's actually been constructed and built on site and
actually see that that's my design. It actually is really cool. And like, I get a real sense of
satisfaction, like pride and kind of like, oh, I did that. It might only be a piece of like equipment
and sports, but no, it is exciting. That's cool. Oh my goodness. We're trying to learn,
so we do a lot of building assessment and building energy performance. And we're trying to learn
more about substations and what's actually in them because half the time when I go into a
plant room, I'm like, okay, what is what? Where is the diagram? Like to show these stuff. That's
really cool. We'll call you in. We'll call in your name. That's brilliant. So you were talking about
the degree you did at Ulster and then you got onto NIE networks with the graduate role on the
apprenticeship training. What sort of, what type of training did they pitch you for? Was it a lot
of, you have to read a lot of manuals or more like, okay, you're going to go out in site and
practical like experience like going? So in my role as well, like there's a lot of different
aspects to it. So you would have the like health and safety training, which is a massive part
working in the sector, massive part because you're dealing with, you'd be on site and you need to be
safe and compliant with all the safety rules as well. So there's a lot of safety training at the
start, also awareness of the team and what we're responsible for. So the training, I suppose,
in terms of like regulations and like processes as well, in terms like IT systems internally,
externally, and also how to like projects as well, really. So there's a lot of training, a lot of
on the job chain, I suppose, as well. Like you don't really know what a job involves until you're
actually doing it and you're making a mistake. So you're asking those questions and finding out
more about how to actually do this. And like you pick up, you definitely learn as you go as well.
And like, I'm sure there's a lot of different people you collaborate with on site as well,
that can share some of their. Absolutely. Effort. Yeah, yeah, exactly. That's like,
part of like how we try to learn as well. It's like, hey, what did you learn from this job?
And like I was telling you at the beginning, part of the reason we'll start this podcast,
just like to kind of show maybe people who are deciding like, oh, is this career right for me?
Or what sort of career do I want to be in? But like always looking for that person to kind of
show you some like inside knowledge or expertise like really helps and really makes you feel
like grounded. Absolutely. Yeah. I don't know if grounded is an electrical service. I'll stop.
It's getting out of hand. That's great. Is there, I know speaking about guides as well,
I'm sure there's a lot of electrical safety guides or manuals, but do you have a favorite at all?
Is there one in particular you reference?
Sorry. Probably not. I'd say there's probably a lot of documents that I have. I have a folder
saved in a certainly just for reference really. Here's some handy notes. But probably not that
in particular, you know. OK, OK. That's fine. I'll come back to that. OK, so Margaret,
throughout the section, it's kind of the question, pun round section. OK, OK. Actually,
it's just a question section, but it's kind of like a lot of I ask you silly, non-serious questions
and kind of tailor this like towards the individual guest. OK, so because you're
in the electrical business, it's called leaving a spark. And then again, you can keep that to
your friends. OK, but I actually guess these are on around NIE networks. OK, and it's stuff that
again, I got straight from the NIE networks. And I will accept estimates. OK. And yeah, but I'm sure
you guys already know this because like I'm sure it's like, yeah, OK, this is what we do. So
how many kilometers of transmission network does NIE networks have to accept to the nearest license?
I suppose we're always building and creating a new transmission network. But I think the last time
I looked at it was like forty nine thousand kilometers. OK, that's past. OK, you got that.
OK, so how many like second question, you were talking earlier about substations. Yeah. And
again, this one didn't give an exact number. Yeah. So except to the nearest hundred.
OK. How many substations to those networks have? So quite a few substations. And so we have
distribution substations, which would be anything from and 3311 substations and in both 66 KV as
well. Or we have transmission substations, which are 275 KV or 110 KV. So we have probably about
three hundred and ten substations. And I'd say about 50 of those are probably transmission
substations at the higher voltage level. So yeah, this thing because I kind of know,
I didn't know about substations until we entered this role. And then at the start, I was kind of
like, what is a substation? Like pretty much it's just like, OK, I'm not going to explain it. I'm
going to ask the answer. But yeah, could you give like a summary of what a substation is for any of
those who don't know? That's a very good question. OK. So substation is basically a building which
or area which has equipment and that basically transports electricity. It's on the journey from
transporting electricity from the point of generation to the point of your house as well.
So we basically step down the voltage at different levels. So our transmission substation
through the higher voltage levels and then always going to the lower voltage and we would
have power substations within like which would feed smaller areas such as small villages, towns
or housing as well. And whereas our transmission substations would be larger cities and larger areas
for my customers. So inside substation, like you've probably driven past probably quite a lot of them
or they'd be just unaware. But you usually see like a big NIA logo with a substation of a big sign
outside of saying location of where it's at, danger, keep out and all that good stuff. But yeah,
inside it there's equipment and will there be like plant and switch gear outside or protection panels
in the transmission substation as well and controls basically. And that would be the equipment
that we would use to isolate any sort of fault or particular maintenance or anything as well. So
we'd use a lot of equipment inside the substation. Very good. Thank you very much for that.
I'm going to use that knowledge. Like respond that someone's like, yeah, did you know this?
But yes. Okay. Well, thanks for playing the Leaving a Star Question Round. You'll be happy
to know what's it for. Okay. So take a look, a sneaky look at your LinkedIn profile. Okay.
I can see you were on the Belfast Telegraph 30 under 30 scheme.
So I'm going to ask you about that. Like how is that? Yeah, I suppose I'm a surprise to anybody
that is actually on it. No, it's been really great. Like once I got the email about it,
I was kind of like the best, I got the wrong person here. Like why? No, it's been really,
it's been really good experience and in part of the 30 under 30, I suppose it's kind of humbling
and like it is a bit of recognition for some of the other areas that I've been involved in. And
it's kind of, I know 30 under 30. But no, it's been really good. Like promoting the outreach as
well and the IT and other volunteering as well to kind of promote engineering, which I had to be
involved in. And like it is good. I suppose some people have said like it's good to promote that.
And so there are people out there and like you can be a role model for people. And like, yeah,
whenever somebody says you're a role model, I was like, I don't think I am. But no, it is been
really, it's been really positive and yeah, very exciting, very proud as well. And like, yeah,
been really appreciative of all the support. Like a lot of people, yes, I might be named on the list,
but a lot of people have been involved in the background and have helped me get there. So
that's very appreciative. No, that's it. That's it. That's class. No, I can't wait to see like
all the articles about it. Like, oh my God, there's Margaret. I know her. Well, so. OK,
you're also you're talking there about the IET, but you're also on the STEM program as well. So
you're a STEM ambassador. Yes, STEM, science, technology, engineering, maths. Yeah, I don't
know why I said that so slow. OK, like, yeah, but like when you're saying they're like, you know,
in skill, technology and call to you. And then obviously, if you're interested in pharmacy,
all the maths and science based subjects call to you. I really should have done some research on
the numbers. The amount of people that maybe like are in STEM based roles. That would have been a
cool fit for this. OK, next time you're on that. But you're also within the IET, the Institute of
Engineering, Engineering, Technologists or Engineering and Technology. That's what is it.
That's cool. You're part of the committee for young professionals. Yes. Yes. So you're actually
the chair. Yes. Yes. Congratulations. So, yeah, so how did you get this role? Like, how did it come
about or what kind of like as like what kind of channels did you go through? So I suppose
it was never I was fresh at university and studying electrical and electronic engineering at
Queen's. I was fresh into just IET. So there was like an IET on campus student group. And as part
of that, they had organized events and I kind of thought it was a really good way to meet people
initially and like get involved. You know, they're running cool tours or like workshops and like be
social activities and stuff as well. So it was a really good way to like kind of meet people,
especially starting out at university. And then I suppose like moving on through the years,
like I got involved with the student on campus group when I was a chair of it as well. And then
since graduating, I became the chair of the young professionals as well here in Northern Ireland.
And then as part of that, I suppose as well, like I'm on the local network committee for
all Northern Ireland as well. So it's quite, it is really good. Like, it's been great, I suppose,
to kind of meet new people and also like get to plan and like organize events, which I really
love doing and like helping to promote engineering and actually like get out there and like do things
really and like show that we're not just engineers just sitting on our desks, we actually do things
and we're especially really interested in some of the events we would organize. Whether it be like
workshops, tours, lectures, social events, networking, annual dinner. We have a lot of
stuff going on and it's quite good that it's just a real variety. Like there's stuff that
you might just find interesting. It doesn't have to be like car engineering based. It's very random,
open to everybody and it's always a good event really. So a good way to meet new people as well.
Very good. Like that's class. She knows because I'm also on the young professionals
network for the energy and shit. So who knows too.
Are you like, I can edit this out as well. There's an event on in gym time. Are you going to?
Yeah, I actually, it's funny because I know a lot of young committee or like at the young
professionals committees, they like maybe operate separately, like, you know, from the main like
the adult committee. But like we're just more like we sit in and then like we're going to be like,
we sit in and then like we're kind of like maybe just a section of the minutes for the main
committee. I had to like ask them, I was just like, here, we sponsor this. And then like everyone's
like, yeah, like I'm sure that's grand. And then our AGM happened and the treasurer stepped down
and haven't pointed anyone yet. And I'm like, cool, we need to get this.
The search. Yeah, please. That's that's class. Yeah, see that. Okay. Yeah. Brilliant. Brilliant.
Thank you. Okay. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Like you've been an absolute delight
to talk to. And you've got so much valuable information as well. And yeah, I think we've like,
it's just your chair of IET and then IET young professionals and always trying to encourage
people to get involved in societies and organizations like that. Because there's not
just IET, there's CIPSE and then Lystrapte and then the Concrete Society as well. Like so much.
And yeah, just like you can get to meet people and all. It just really helps your career as well.
Because like then you're like, you know that person or you can be like, hang on, I know a guy.
Like all the connections. Yeah. See, you said you're going to ramble. I'm rambling. Okay.
Okay. But again, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Just before we go,
do you have any advice for future prospective engineers, engineers, electrical engineers,
or people who want to work within NIE that want to get into this sector?
Well, I would say absolutely. Like it's such an exciting time in the sector and in the industry
as a whole. I would say absolutely. Like it's such an exciting time in the whole sector and industry.
There's going to be so many new opportunities, challenges and like
ways. And it's going to be down to us and engineers to try and solve these problems as we work towards
net zero. I would say like I would also recommend joining NIE networks and shine out if anybody
wants to get in touch. But no, absolutely. Like I would definitely recommend getting involved and
going to the event, chatting with people, find out more about it, doing your research and put
yourself out there really. And like don't be afraid if it doesn't work out the first time.
Yeah. Just keep going. Like one of my favorite things is like fear can be two things.
Fear everything and run or fear can be face everything and rise. So, first of all, apply.
That's okay. That's insightful. I always like in these episodes when someone says something
that's really, I'm like, you can put that as the sound bite. Like when you're advertising
the episode, you're like, yeah, it's pretty insightful guys. Okay. I've got it on my calendar.
So I try to always think of a pump based one. However, I used it as the title of the question
round. You couldn't resist. Like I couldn't resist. And usually I'm pretty good at coming up
with these things off the cuff, but I really, I really can't. So I'm just going to say, yeah,
don't be afraid to always leave a spark. I'm actually going to retract that because that
kind of sounds maybe like, like I'm encouraging people to be an arsonist or something like that.
Don't be afraid for the shock factor. Again, my brain's just not working. Apologies.
I'll edit something in. Okay. But no, thanks again for coming on. You've been absolutely brilliant.
Thanks so much, Maman.
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