Shaibu Ibrahim PE, PMPยฎ

Sr. Electrical Engineer. NABCEP PVIP. LEED GA. I write and talk about power and energy systems. I help electrical engineers achieve their professional engineer license in the U.S. Read more at shailearning.com ๐Ÿš€

Chicago, Illinois, United States

About

๐— ๐˜† ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฆ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐˜‚ (๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ถ, ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—œ ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ ๐˜€๐—ต๐˜†). ๐—œ ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—œ ๐—น๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ธ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜„๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐˜ ๐˜€๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐˜€, ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€, ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€. I share posts relevant to ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜„๐˜๐—ต through continuous learning. My professional career began in 2014 with Ghana's largest utility power distribution company, following my graduation with a BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. From 2015 to 2019, I held various roles with two prestigious multinational thermal power generation companies. After acquiring an MSc in Sustainable Energy in 2021, I transitioned into the renewables sector, specifically solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and energy storage, in North America (the USA and Canada). As a professional, I enjoy collaborating with research leaders on electric grid stability, particularly in the context of high penetration of inverter-based resources (IBR), including large-scale solar PV, climate & sustainability, energy transition, and artificial intelligence. I volunteer with prestigious organizations, including IEEE, CIGRE, and PMI. Software Tools and Standards โ€ข ETAP โ€ข CYMCAP โ€ข PSS/E โ€ข PSCAD โ€ข WinIGS โ€ข PVSyst โ€ข AutoCAD โ€ข MATLAB Simulink/PSAT โ€ข SEL 5601 SynchroWave โ€ข AcSELerator QuickSet software โ€ข AcSELerator RTAC โ€ข SEL SynchroWave โ€ข National Electric Code โ€ข ANSI/IEEE codes, SCADA/HMI โ€ข Python Key Interests: โ€ข Renewable Energy Systems โ€ข Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution โ€ข Power Systems Design & Modeling โ€ข Power Systems Optimization โ€ข Grid Stability โ€ข Substation Design โ€ข Power Systems Protection and Control (P&C) โ€ข Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency โ€ข Sustainability โ€ข AI Disclaimer: *๐˜ˆ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ฎ๐˜บ ๐˜ท๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ (๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด, ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ธ๐˜ด, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด) ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ฎ๐˜บ ๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด*. ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜Œ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฎ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ๐˜บ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฑ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ. ๐˜—๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ด, ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ด, ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ง ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ข ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ.

Experience

  • Senior Electrical Engineer at ACCIONA
    Feb 2025 - Present ยท 1 yr 6 mos

    โ€ข Lead the preliminary design for the substation associated with renewable energy facilities. โ€ข Support in managing electrical engineering contractors assigned to work on the substation design, including defining requirements and specifications, reviewing engineering drawings, and managing RFIs. โ€ข Manage and coordinate external consultants to complete internal assessments and evaluations. โ€ข Conduct international and local site visits to ensure the technical quality of the substation at various stages of the project, from construction to commissioning. โ€ข Develop tools and procedures to ensure efficiency, consistency, and quality while optimizing design costs. โ€ข Optimize design to maximize return on investment (ROI) โ€ข Provide engineering consultancy to project managers in the preliminary design and engineering of substations. โ€ข Provide engineering support to other areas of the organization, including O&M and Power Marketing. โ€ข Conduct plant equipment technical review and specifications, including transformers, breakers, control building, SCADA, other MV/HV equipment, โ€ข Evaluate electrical equipment and material proposals; prepare bid tab evaluations for electrical equipment and materials. โ€ข Assist with the management of the Non-Conformity and Quality Audit programs. โ€ข Be on-site for backfeed and first energization to the grid, as well as commissioning. โ€ข Oversee the electrical tests conducted by the Construction Team on-site before and during the commissioning of the renewable energy facilities. Support the QA/QC team on site. โ€ข Maintain a current understanding of renewable generation technology by participating in various training opportunities, reading Acciona and industry documents and publications, and participating in other professional development activities. โ€ข Create the weekly and monthly reporting requirements for both internal and external customers, as well as KPI reporting.

  • Pure Power Engineering ()
    • Power Systems Engineer III
      Apr 2024 - Jan 2025 ยท 10 mos

      โ€ข Supported the electrical design team with power study analyses that guided the development of solar and BESS facilities. โ€ข Reviewed substation design sets, MV/HV equipment, protection, and control settings from external parties, along with studies to support management and the team in making informed decisions regarding design methodology. โ€ข Developed power systems tools/calculators that improved workflow efficiency, accuracy, and time management by approximately 35%. โ€ข Designed, modeled, and analyzed power studies, including load/reactive power flow, cable thermal/ampacity, short-circuit, arc-flash, and lightning risk assessments, as well as grounding, to optimize equipment costs, sizing, plant integrity, and safety for personnel. โ€ข Developed standardized procedures and templates to ensure operational efficiencies in project deliverables. โ€ข Designed and developed relay protection setting files, providing site assistance to relay test technicians and ensuring reliable plant operation.

    • Electrical Engineer I
      Jul 2022 - Apr 2024 ยท 1 yr 10 mos

  • Electrical Engineer at Advanced Solar Products, Inc.
    Jun 2021 - Jul 2022 ยท 1 yr 2 mos

    โ€ข DC and AC design of photovoltaic systems including interconnection with utility following the National Electric Code, ANSI/IEEE, and all other applicable federal, state, and local codes. โ€ข Conducted due diligence, performed feasibility studies, and prepared IFP/IFC drawings for permitting and construction of solar, BESS, and microgrid projects. โ€ข Prepared, reviewed, and approved bill-of-materials (BOM) in support of procurement processes. โ€ข Retrieves, and analyzes event reports of protection relays of solar PV projects rated above 300 kW across New Jersey โ€ข Experienced in programming SEL-751, SEL-751A, SEL-351, and SEL-651R2 protection relays, and configuration of RTAC for automation of solar PV plant processes per utility requirements. โ€ข Specified AC equipment for both low and medium-voltage interconnections, including AC combiners, transformers, switchgear, etc. โ€ข Performs load flow, short circuit, arc flash, protection, and coordination analysis using the ETAP software. โ€ข Designed data acquisition systems (DAS) for system monitoring and performance evaluation of solar PV plants. โ€ข Provided relevant technical support during permitting, construction, field engineering, and commissioning of projects as necessary. โ€ข Supported the business development team with technical aspects to help project bid processes. โ€ข Performed site visits to create preliminary designs โ€ข Programmed protection relays, uploaded settings, and provided commissioning assistance. โ€ข Supported third-party electrical testings, and performed field works on power transformers, MV cables, switchgear, relays, instrument transformers, etc.

  • Graduate Assistant at Eastern Illinois University
    Aug 2019 - May 2021 ยท 1 yr 10 mos

    โ€ข Research project - improving solar PV integration transient stability to the electric grid using capacitor banks. Modeling and simulation are done in ETAP software. โ€ข Performed protection coordination, arc flash, short circuit, transient stability, voltage stability analyses, and cable sizing with ETAP software. โ€ข Designed, modeled, optimized, and analyzed IEEE-9 bus system with solar PV integration achieving a 70% fast voltage recovery period. โ€ข Utility-scale solar plant design, modeling, optimization, and economic evaluation using PVSyst software. โ€ข Built scalar control (V/f) of a 3-phase induction motor with a variable frequency drive powered with a 24V battery pack via an inverter with a mobile App monitoring battery performance. Communication is through CAT-5e ethernet and Bluetooth. โ€ข Designed and built a smart home test station to investigate energy and cost savings for home and hotel appliances. โ€ข Prepared a budget for the purchase of laboratory equipment: variable frequency drive, oscilloscope, electronic components, PVSyst, MATLAB, etc. โ€ข Proactively participated in technology mentorship meetings every Wednesday throughout the semester for teamwork and collaboration.

  • Aksa Enerji รœretim A.ลž. ()
    • Shift Electrical Engineer
      Apr 2017 - Jul 2019 ยท 2 yrs 4 mos

      โ€ข Experienced in control room operations: start, stop, load, voltage, and frequency control. โ€ข Experienced at troubleshooting, preventive and corrective maintenance on switchgear, field instruments, plant auxiliaries, power transformers, alternators, black start generator, etc. โ€ข Familiar with SEL SCADA, RTU, and RTAC automation controllers โ€ข Coordinated, and communicated with the system control center (SCC) on power generation availability, dispatch schedules, and plant health conditions. โ€ข Carried out station protection permit, lockout, and tag-out on low, medium, and high voltage installations for maintenance duties. โ€ข Prepared detailed operations report to management on the daily and monthly gross energy generated and the net energy delivered to the grid to help decision making, revenue, and profit estimations. โ€ข Analyzed plant performance and stability

    • Electrical Engineer
      Sep 2016 - Apr 2017 ยท 8 mos

      Teamed and coordinated with contractors and developers to complete the following tasks ๐Ÿญ. ๐—š๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฎ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜† ๐—Ÿ๐˜๐—ฑ (๐—š๐—ฅ๐—œ๐——๐—–๐—ผ) โ€ข Performed pre-commissioning and commissioning tests on 161/15 kV substation โ€ข Treatment of substation main power transformers (5 of 100/125MVA) insulation oil โ€ข SF6 circuit breaker gas filling and analysis โ€ข SF6 circuit breaker and disconnect switches contact resistance test โ€ข SF6 circuit breaker open-close and trip time tests โ€ข 161/15 kV substation protection relay tests (SEL- 751A, SEL- 411L, SEL- 487E and SEL- 487B) ๐Ÿฎ. ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐˜€๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฎ โ€ข Performed electrical and UNIC C3 system automation commissioning tests on 18V46 Wartsila engines โ€ข Installed and configured Modicon quantum Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) โ€ข Commissioned protection relay (VAMP 210 and VAMP 265) on ABB synchronous generators โ€ข Instruments, sensors, and machine auxiliaries installed and commissioned ๐Ÿฏ. ๐Ÿฐ๐—” ๐—˜๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฐ Installed and commissioned โ€ข SEL Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) โ€ข Instrument transformers, Circuit breakers, Disconnect switches โ€ข Power transformers control cabinet โ€ข Rectifiers, batteries system, AC and DC panels โ€ข Protection relay panels, metering panels โ€ข Automatic voltage regulator (AVR) panels โ€ข Switchyard switchgear common control panels โ€ข Installation of marshaling kiosks at the switchyard ๐Ÿฐ. ๐—›๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ง๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—Ÿ๐˜๐—ฑ Installation of the following but not limited to: โ€ข Five 100/125 MVA main power transformers and plant structures โ€ข Disconnect switches, SF6 circuit breakers, surge arrestors โ€ข Instrument transformers (current and voltage transformers) โ€ข Transformers feeder lines, main busbars, coupling feeder, and outgoing feeder lines ๐Ÿฑ. ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—˜๐—ป๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—Ÿ๐˜๐—ฑ โ€ข Performed insulation resistance and hipot test on MV cables โ€ข Substation ground grid installation and trench works