Engineer Muhammad Ahmad Habib Qureshi, heading Solar Division of Multiline Engineering is a graduate from the University of Sheffield, UK shares in his interview his multiple work experience and also how renewable energy is gaining ground in Pakistan.
He is working with Multiline for a year now and believes It is an excellent organization for professional growth and a place to enhance my technical knowledge.
What are your core responsibilities?
There is a growing demand for renewable energy, and since it is a new and trending technology, there is a lot of misinformation amongst the masses. It takes a lot of time and effort in educating potential customers. Being the manager, my core responsibilities range from Sales & Marketing to Engineering and Design of PV systems. I also have to look into the operations and sourcing issues. Given that Grid-Tied Solutions involve a lot of government departments for net metering, I have to focus my concentration on the details of the Net Metering filing process to avoid delays.
My responsibilities also include “Electric vehicle” chargers. We have successfully installed the EV Charger infrastructure for several renowned German automobile companies who are rolling out their EV models in Pakistan. We are also providing a whole range of swing, sliding, and bi-folding“Gate Automation” Solutions.
Multiline Engineering believes that Customer service is not a department. It is the entire company.
What excites you most about this position?
This position aligns perfectly with my natural temperament. It is a blend of Technical and Sales skills. It provides me with the opportunity to meet new people and discuss ideas. The most exciting part is to see my ideas taking shape and eventually coming to life.
How would you describe your own working style?
As per the working style, my strongest trait is the attention to detail, I totally believe in planning and execution. However sometimes I become way too detail-oriented and try to accomplish everything, but then I realize I am losing up on time. I try to maintain a fine balance of productivity and personal satisfaction amongst all individuals of my team. I believe that human happiness has a large and positive effect on productivity.
How technology has influenced your workplace?
Technology is playing a vital role in our line of work. Business communications have gradually shifted to mobile devices. New and emerging communications tools like WhatsApp Business are making it a lot easier to work and stay in touch with colleagues, team members as well as customers. We are now embracing text, chat, video, file sharing, and screen sharing in addition to email and phone communications at the workplace.
In regards to Solar, most of the designing is based on some form of technology. From surveys to Engineering to the Net Metering Application, the digital world makes the work a lot easy and accurate.
How do Photovoltaic panels actually work? What is Net Metering?
Photovoltaic is a process of converting light into electricity using a photovoltaic effect. A typical PV system consists of a number of PV panels, an inverter and some other hardware that converts light into electricity.
In September 2015, NEPRA issued its net-metering regulations that allow the “Distribution Companies” in Pakistan e.g. LESCO, to purchase excess units of electricity produced by the customers who have installed a Grid-Tied PV system and net them off against the units consumed from the grid.
Who is the financial beneficiary of Solar Energy?
The Grid-TiedSolar Solution’smost obvious benefit is to the consumers. It is also possible to practically minimize your annual bills to zero. You can even make money if you produce more than you consume and your DISCO pays you for that excess Energy at the off-peak retail rate.
We have a very talented team of engineers, who design and customize it according to your requirements. We can produce enough units from Solar Power System, that can meet your total annual electricity consumption. However, in certain cases, rooftop space can be a limiting factor.
How does SolarEnergy benefit our country and the environment?
According to the studies, Pakistan has 2.9 million MW of SolarEnergy potential. But we are using only 400-500 MW of this huge potential. However, renewable friendly policies from the government are increasing our reliance on Solar Energy. If we are serious about moving toward energy independence in a cost-effective way, also if we are serious about cutting air & water pollution together with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Solar Solution is the only answer.
SolarEnergy is environment-friendly, it adds to the total installed power generation capacity of any country, and since the Sun cannot be taxed, it provides free Energy to the consumer. It is a clear winner when it comes to boosting the economy and creating jobs.
How does switching to On-Grid PV System helps to an improved budget?
On-Grid Solar systems are by far the most advanced form of the Solar power system. These systems significantly reduce electricity bills. The excess Energy produces by the system during the daytime can be exported to the National Grid and the customer will buy back the energy from the grid when it is needed. At the end of the month, both export and import Energy will be calculated. The bill will be prepared on the basis of Net Energy purchased by the customer. If you install net metering in your facility, you can reduce the amount of money you spend each year on your electricity bill.
Another benefit of the On-Grid Solar system is the exclusion of Battery Banks, which is a liability, in terms of hefty recurring costs. On-Grid Systems are also more reliable and comes with a longer service life compared to their hybrid counterparts