In this episode we speak with Stephen Stead, Director of Strategic Growth at SSE Energy Solutions (SSE) in the UK. Steve speaks about the challenges and the new ideas and solutions in integrating distributed, local energy into networks and the energy market. These solutions span the decarbonization of multiple energy vectors as well as private networks development and smart cities. The drive to real net zero carbon and the use of digital platforms to manage energy, financial and carbon to achieve those goals comes clearly through the discussion.
Steve also talks about his personal motivations and initiatives in climate action as well as the large programs that SSE lead in offshore wind power and energy services including, now including smaller scale energy assets including solar PV, battery energy storage, EV charging hubs and new innovative solutions such as hydrogen.
Smarter Grid Solutions’ work with SSE on the Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure (PIRI) smart city project and the delivery of the Virtual Power Plant platform are highlighted as exemplar projects for SSE, along with their integration across multiple energy assets and digital platforms.
Steve mentions SSE’s COP26 programs and his hopes for real impact and change from COP26.
About our guest
Stephen Stead - Director of Strategic Growth, SSE Energy Solutions
Stephen Stead has worked in the energy sector for over 25 years, and for the last 10 years his focus has been primarily on smart solutions and low carbon technologies including hydrogen-based energy systems.
Most recently, while Director for SSE Enterprise, Distributed Energy, he established the Digital Services business for SSE targeting areas such as Smart City, Energy as a Service, EV Charging and Smart Asset Management.
Stephen started his career in the IT sector where he worked for Siemens and Toshiba developing products and services for the energy industry.
He has a sharp eye for business trends and has been hugely successful at developing new business propositions to address industry needs.
Stephen studied Computer Science at Kingston University and went on to achieve an MBA from Manchester Business School. His writing on sustainability, innovation and future energy has also appeared in the New Statesman, Modern Utilities and Utility Week.
About Us
Smarter Grid Solutions is a leading enterprise energy management software company operating internationally from bases in the UK and US.
Smarter Grid Solutions’ DERMS products are used by distribution utilities, energy service companies and microgrid operators to manage grid capacity and resilience and to seamlessly integrate energy assets to the grid and market. Its software already manages over 400 MW of distributed energy resources around the world and has saved customers over $300 million in grid upgrades.
If you’d like to find out how our smart energy management products help clean energy developers to add value and push towards net zero then visit us at: www.smartergridsolutions.com
