Meet Ivan Dodurov, PV Electrical Design Engineer in Solarpro, who shares more about the different stages and challenges of designing a project and why he feels motivated to be a part of the transformation of the energy sector.
Tell us more about your role in Solarpro
I am part of the electrical design team of the company. My current role is PV electrical design engineer. Our team is responsible for creating the electrical design package for each PV project our company develops. We are involved in different stages of development of the PV projects related to technical part and especially electrical. At design stage we create the whole PV electrical design documentation.
How does an average day on the job look like for you?
An average day for me means that I would be involved in working on a PV project design, which in most of the cases would be a large scale on-grid PV Power Plant. It might be individual work, but in some cases, it would be in collaboration with some of my teammates.
So, I would be dealing with PV calculations, choosing PV configuration for a current project, electrical calculations for appropriate selection and determination the sizes and type of the equipment, creating technical drawings, technical descriptions and many other documents which the design package would include. In my average day I would use a number of dedicated software programs which provide the possibility for determining the best PV Array placement, optimal performance and reduced power losses of the projects we design.
What’s the most important skill to bring to your position?
Maybe one of the most important skills is to be a team player. Dedication would be in my top 5 as well.
What are the typical challenges you face in your role?
Every project comes with its own challenges. Deadlines are always a challenge in our team. Finding the best technical solution for cost effective PV project design is a huge challenge. In my own work I always try to find a way to cut time for finishing a task, so I find it challenging to look for faster and more effective ways to complete tasks I face.
Why did you choose solar energy? What motivates you to work within the renewable sector?
I decided to go in solar energy because I believe that this sector will be an important part of the development of power generation systems and it will transform the energy sector in the future. My motivation is that this sector is developing and it’s growing bigger and bigger and that means new knowledge and new opportunities. My other motivation is that our work supports the reducing the carbon pollution of our planet, so I feel proud that I am involved.
What are your interests outside of work?
I love to spend my free time with my lovely wife. We travel a lot and do sports in the weekends. I am keen on sports and a huge football fan, so my hobby is watching football no matter live or on TV.
How and when did you start working in Solarpro?
I started on 16th November 2016. I went back to Bulgaria after a period of living abroad. So I saw a position available and applied online. Then I received a call and was invited to a job interview in the company. The rest is history!
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a job in renewables?
My advice would be if you are keen on renewables and feel passionate to be involved then you go for it. But be ready to face different challenges and the process of learning to be infinite. I think this is valid for anything you do in your life.