Ellen Diskin, BEng MSc PhD Dip LCM CEng MIEI

Experience

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  ESB Networks

  Aug 2009 - Feb 2024

  Primarily my role is in technical system management - planning and approval of planned and response operations on the high voltage distribution system in Dublin and the northern half of the Irish distribution system. I am responsible for ensuring the secure operation of the high voltage distribution system during normal and outage conditions, and the controlled energisation of new plant, I also serve as the primary point of contact for generation and large commercial or industrial demand customers.Given the technical and functional interaction between the transmission and distribution systems, I coordinate with Eirgrid (Irish TSO) regarding near time operations, outage programming at transmission and distribution levels, and contingency response.The role and technological capabilities of the distribution system are evolving rapidly with increasingly high levels of distributed generation, economic development to which security and quality of supply is critical, and extensive requirements arising of recent European legislation to facilitate market, security and sustainability objectives. In light of this, I am now working with industry experts within Ireland and internationally on the efficient, effective and secure development of electricity system operations and the implementation of European Network Codes. Show less All work and investment on the distribution system completed by ESB Networks on behalf of all Irish electricity customers is funded through regulated distribution use-of-system tariffs (DUoS). Through the 5 yearly "Price Review" process, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), acting on behalf of customers, assesses ESB Networks' proposals to ensure the continued secure and efficient development and operation of the system. This process involves detailed ex-ante review of future proposals and ex-post review of the works delivered in the preceding five year period.In 2014/15 I was responsible for the development and production of the hugely consequential plans and reports detailing investment strategy and delivered works in the areas of - asset replacement - maintenance - security / continuity improvement investments - incentive performance and design - new connections (Dec 2014 onwards)Over a 12 month period I managed the development of these plans and engaged in detailed discussions, presentations and data provision with CER and its expert consultant teams.This role demanded the coordination of a large team of technical experts, financial analysts, external consultant support and administrative functions in ESB Networks. In the successful delivery of this project, my team addressed complex and demanding issues including innovation strategies, evidence based decision making and condition based management, supporting safety in asset management, technico-economic optimization, resource planning and strategy, and inter-disciplinary integration. Show less Leading research, development and demonstration activities on the Irish distribution system, and contributing as an expert in EU expert groups and international industry association task forces and working groups.From a technical perspective, I lead and contributed to projects involving internal and external stakeholders addressing challenges in - electric vehicle integration - distributed wind generation management - demand response facilitation - use of data analytics for system management - the Irish smart meter trial deployment - operational security and active networks - energy efficiencyI enjoyed the privilege of working with experts from across a number of industries, including teams from EPRI, the European Commission Joint Research Centre, IBM, Intel, Glen Dimplex, Ericsson, GE, utilities across Europe, policy experts in Eurelectric (industry association), Irish wind generation operators, internal asset, technology, communications/ICT and operational experts, academics in UCD, WIT, RWTH Aachen amongst many others.From a policy and strategy perspective, I represented ESBN, Ireland and the electricity distribution industry on a number of European expert groups including - European Commission Smart Grids Task Force - Expert Group 4 (Infrastructure Deployment) - European Commission Smart Grids Task Force - Expert Group 5 (Industrial Policy) - Eurelectric Working Group Smart Grids - Eurelectric subgroup Active Network Management - Eurelectric Working Group DSO Coordination for Project Deployment - European Technology Plantform Working Group 2 (Energy storage and grid integration) Show less Design and appraisal of investments in the medium and high voltage distribution system driven primarily by demand growth and customer connection requests.In addition to on demand study, design and appraisal of investment options and customer connections, I was responsible for the development of 8 year investment plans for two large areas of the country in the Northwest and Midlands.I liaised with regional delivery staff in ESB Networks to ensure the efficient and coordinated preparation of works, and to integrate local knowledge and experience into investment plans whose delivery would impact on customer service and operational efficiency immediately and whose impact would be sustained over decades. 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  • Head of the National Network, Local Connections Programme

    Aug 2021 - Feb 2024

  • Active System Manager

    Dec 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Price Review 5 (PR5) Manager

    Nov 2018 - Dec 2020

  • Manager, Transmission and Distribution Regulation

    May 2017 - Oct 2018

  • High Voltage Operations Planner

    May 2015 - Apr 2017

  • Technical lead, Distribution Price Review submissions (Maintenance, Asset Replacement, Incentives)

    Apr 2014 - Apr 2015

  • Senior Professional Engineer, Smart Networks

    Jun 2010 - Mar 2014

  • Engineer, Network Investment Planning

    Aug 2009 - May 2010
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  ESB

  Mar 2024 - now

  Responsible for net zero strategy & sustainability across all customer- facing ESB businesses, including electricity and gas retail in the residential and I&C markets (Ireland and UK), electric vehicle charging, industrial energy services, home energy retrofit, wholesale telecommunications infrastructure.

  • Head of Net Zero Strategy & Sustainability

    Sept 2024 - now

  • Gardening leave - ESB head office

    Mar 2024 - Aug 2024