Profile

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Daniel Hardy

Curriculum Vitae

  • Education:

    Christ the King High School, King George V College, University of Manchester, Technical University Munich

  • Qualifications:

    GSCEs, A-levels in Physics, Maths and Electronics. Bachelors of Engineering (BEng) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Master of Science (M.Sc.) Power Engineering

  • Work History:

    Worked in a greengrocers during school, then worked for a company making solar PV batteries in Munich, then a company producing water turbines for extremely rural communities in places such as the amazons, then a company in the UK designing and installing solar PV systems

  • Current Job:

    Currently I’m a Solar PV Design Engineer for a company called Ameresco

  • Employer:

    Ameresco is an energy services provider, so it doesn’t just provide solar PV systems to their clients but also things such as heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, wind turbines, insulation, LED lighting… and plenty more!

    Ameresco and other companies are always looking for new engineers to join their team. You can find out more about Ameresco using the link:

    Home

     

    • About Me

      27 year old electrical engineer, big on climate change and music

    • Read more

      I live in Sheffield with my girlfriend Simone and cat Moos. I studied electrical engineering at Manchester university and then in Munich in Germany. I met my girlfriend in the Netherlands (she is dutch), we moved to Sheffield in 2019.

      In my work I design solar PV (photovoltaic) systems for rooftops, in my time-off I’m playing or listening to music, at the pub or visiting friends around the UK and Europe. I’m also on the executive of the Sheffield Green Party, I look after their databases (its as fun as it sounds but someone has to do it!).

      At home I’m woodworking, homebrewing and sometimes a bit of gaming on the PS4.

       

    • My Work

      I design solar PV systems and install them on people's roofs. Solar PV systems convert sunlight to electricity, which stops us from needing to burn coal or gas to produce the same electricity!

    • Read more

      Solar PV (photovoltaic) uses solar panels (see photo) to convert sunlight into electricity, its my job to find out how we can install these panels onto peoples roof.

      First I need to find out how many panels will fit onto someones roof, then I can create a design which looks something like the following photos (this was actually of a school!):

      Once that’s done, I’ll need to go find out how it will be installed… this involves:

      • Finding out the roof type and how we will attach the panels to it
      • Finding out what electrical kit we will need to install the system
      • What scaffolding and machines our installers will need to do the job
      • Getting permissions from the local electricity grid and council
      • Find out any special requirements of the site (like any pesky kids running around)
      • Finding out how much all of this will cost

      Once the system is installed, I get to go out onto the site to see that everything has been installed correctly.

       

    • My Typical Day: Receiving a new job, checking out the site on google maps and putting solar panels on the roof where I think it can fit. Calling with the installers and checking they OK with the design. Putting together a pricing sheet to show my manager how much I think the system will cost to install

    • Read more

      I’m currently working remotely from home so I don’t usually start until 9am, a lot of what I do is on the computer, on programs such as AutoCAD and excel. I also do a lot of calling with installers, equipment suppliers, scaffolders, managers, clients… so lots of talking with people! I’m definitely not hidden down in some basement on the computer.

      Quite often I need to drive to the site where we will install panels to learn more about the site or meet people there to explain to them what they need to do to install the solar PV system.

    • What I'd do with the money

      I’d buy lots of small DIY solar panel kits, so I could go into local schools and do some lessons where the kids can wire up some of their own solar PV systems and see them work in real life

    • Read more

      This is the kind of kit I’d like to buy, although I’d get some easy plug and play style ones on breadboards so no soldering is needed!

       

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        engineer red beard

        What's the best thing you've done in your career?

        Moved into renewable energy

        What or who inspired you to follow your career?

        Wind farms near where I used to grow up

        What was your favourite subject at school?

        Physics

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Electrical engineer

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Always but incredibly annoying for the poor teachers as I always knew just when to stop...

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Oh astronuat easy I love space and wanted to be one when I was dead young

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Toots and the Maytals

        What's your favourite food?

        Potatoes (quarter irish you know)

        What is the most fun thing you've done?

        Flyed a helicopter actually, incredibly lucky

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        Give me an island in the tropics, more money than sense and a rocket that I can casually go to the moon to get some cheese

        Tell us a joke.

        Yesterday at church the priest was walking around in an unusual hat, glasses and mustache saying 'god bless you, god bless you'. I think it was a blessing in disguise

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