Challenges Faced in the Career of a Protection Engineer
Learn how changing technology, power systems, and maintenance practices affect protection engineers.
In this episode, we discuss the challenges protection engineers face over time due to the transformation of energy systems, advancements in protection technology, evolving maintenance requirements, and keeping up with the latest developments to do their work effectively.
Two seasoned protection testing experts describe these challenges and offer their experience and expertise to suggest ways to address them.
Ignaz Hübl studied electrical engineering at the Technical University of Graz in Austria. From 1987, he worked at KELAG-Kärntner Electricity as a protection technician in operations. Until his retirement in 2018, he worked in management positions at KNG-Kärnten Network. Until 2016, he was the Protection Technology Department chairman at Austria Energy. He has been with CIRED in the “Technical Committee, Session 3” since 2009. Since 2021, he has been chairman of CIRED in the “Technical Committee - Session 4” Protection, Control, and Automation.
Oliver Skrbinjek has several years of experience with protection technology in medium-voltage and high-voltage networks and with the entire process of automation technology within energy distribution. He heads the secondary technology department at Energienetze Steiermark in Austria. In addition to standardization and communication in energy distribution systems, his current focus is on protection technology, cross-system principles, expert questions, and information security in technical systems.
Ignaz and Oliver presented this topic at a recent OMICRON German User Meeting focused on protection and control technology.
More information about protection testing:
PROTECTION TESTING
“The most important success factor is the open communication between the user and the manufacturer so that the manufacturer knows exactly what the user needs.”
Oliver Skrbinjek, Secondary Technology, Energienetze Steiermark GmbH
“Expertise in all areas is acquired through active learning and experience over time.”
Ignaz Hübl, Chairman, CIRED Technical Committee - Session 4