Industry Expert

Consultant – Lightning Performance & Surge Arrester Technology (Energy Sector)

Independent Consultant | METARRESTERS | 15+ years of global experience

Description: As an independent consultant specializing in lightning performance analysis and surge arrester technology, I help utilities, manufacturers, and engineering firms reduce outages, improve asset reliability, and optimize surge protection strategies across high-voltage power systems. My expertise lies at the intersection of system studies, component reliability, international standards, and advanced simulation tools.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Consulting: Led projects addressing lightning-related disturbances on overhead lines, surge arrester specification, factory testing, and failure analysis.

• System Studies & Simulations: Delivered advanced lightning performance simulations using SIGMA SLP and risk analysis with I3CM LLS, tailored to each network’s specific topography, insulation level, and lightning exposure.

• Surge Arrester Support: Supported the development, selection, and validation of surge arresters (EGLA, NGLA), focusing on optimized designs, QA/QC strategies, and procurement decisions.

• ️ Lightning Data & Risk Assessment: Transformed raw lightning data into actionable insights for utilities worldwide, enabling data-driven decisions for grid protection investments.

• Training & Education: Provided tailored seminars and workshops for manufacturers and utilities, enhancing team capabilities in insulation coordination, arrester monitoring, and lightning mitigation.

• Standardization Work: Actively contributed to international standardization efforts (IEC TC 37, CIGRE, IEEE), including as convenor of IEC TC 37/WG 14.

Key Achievements:

• Helped multiple utilities reduce lightning-related outages by >90% through optimized LSA deployment and simulation-driven risk mitigation strategies.

• ️ Guided global manufacturers in launching new surge arrester products compliant with IEC/IEEE standards, including MOV block validation and type testing.

• Successfully completed projects in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, combining technical expertise with cultural and regulatory adaptability.

Impact: Through a structured and reliable methodology, I empower clients to:

• Cut operational costs linked to outages and equipment failure.
• Increase confidence in their equipment specification and procurement processes.
• Align with international best practices and regulatory expectations.
• Build long-term resilience against lightning threats and electrical transients.

• High & medium voltage surge arresters and special application – composite long rod insulators for overhead transmission lines
• Market strategy – business development – improvement of sales channels
• Offer & order management – international tenders – commercial & technical submission – technical clarifications – structured sales process
• Full homologation procedure and pilot projects implementation
• Project management on large scale project for new transmission lines
• Customer visits/meeting – frequent travels (USA/Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia)
• Conference/training for customers/distributors/agents
• Audits / factory acceptance test (Germany / China)