PROFILES
“I’m always trying to find new ways to get hands-on experience with renewables. By studying what they’re doing in Iceland, my goal was to bring back some lessons for Alberta, and for the work that I intend to do here in my career,” he says. Right now, that work includes a job as a research assistant with Schulich School of Engineering doctoral candidate Hamid Shaker. Mr. Shaker is developing software that estimates the invisible solar generation produced by small-scale home installations in California. Currently, this energy is metered and deducted from each home’s electricity consumption, but it isn’t reported to grid operators — they can’t see how much energy the house is producing, which is why it’s called invisible. “It’s becoming more challenging for grid operators to predict and respond to this ever-growing unknown variable. We’re trying to better predict it so grid operators can avoid issues with ramping and peak production errors,” explains Mr. Scheu. Mr. Scheu and Mr. Shaker are also entering into discussions with the Alberta Electric System Operator to see how the technol- ogy could be applied here at home. “This technology could be used worldwide to reduce the cost of monitoring and responding to invis- ible generation, paving the way for even higher degrees of renew- able energy penetration,” Mr. Scheu says. As he wraps up his final four courses before graduating in December, Mr. Scheu has a strong vision for his future. “I’d like to get back to the corporate world, where I can gather more experience and make a difference while I finish my P.Eng. I plan to get an MBA when the time is right, and then maybe even start my own sustain- able energy company.” SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS • Suncor Energy Emerging Leaders Engineering Scholarship (2015) • Iceland School of Energy International Essay Competition Winner (2014) • Institute of Engineering Technology, Present Around the World Competition, Americas Finalist (2014) • Dialog Structural Design Competition Scholarship Winner (2014) • Member, University of Calgary Scholars Academy (2014-present) • Jason Lang Scholarship (2010-2013) • Excellence in Leadership Award, University of Calgary Residence Services (2013) • Stuart Olson Dominion Engineering Leadership Scholarship (2013) • David Williams Undergraduate Scholarship in Project Management (2013) • Seymour Schulich Academic Excellence Scholarship (2010-2013) • Loran Award National Finalist, Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation (2010) • Grant McEwan United World College Scholarship (2008-2010) • Vancouver Olympics Torchbearer, Métis Nation of Alberta Representative (2010) • Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award for Volunteerism (2009)
cussions at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He was one of four Schulich engineering students invited to join a delegation from the World Federation of Engineering Orga- nizations at the convention, where countries from across the globe were negotiating greenhouse gas emission targets. He believes it’s vital for engineers to play a role in the talks. “It was a great opportunity to get perspective on what the policy and decision makers see our expertise to be, and what policy changes will affect our industry,” he says. Another highlight from the convention was having the chance to learn from world-leading experts on the latest in renewable energy design.
FINDING THE RIGHT MIX
Mr. Scheu’s first experience working in renewable energy was as an intern with Suncor Energy. Over 15 months starting in May 2013, he was part of the company's wind energy team, working on wind farm development and operation. “It was challenging, fulfilling, and rewarding. I loved it so much,” he says. More recently, he’s been exploring geothermal and solar energy. This summer, he spent three weeks in Iceland attending lectures and visiting geothermal plants as part of an introductory master’s pro- gram with the Iceland School of Energy — paid for with the help of the $10,000 scholarship that came with the Engineers Canada Gold Medal Student Award. The course provides an intensive overview of sustainable technologies, in a country where nearly 100 per cent of electricity and heat come from renewable resources. Q+A What does it mean to you to receive the Gold Medal Student Award? It was a tremendous honour, and very humbling, being recognized alongside the other outstanding recipients. To me, it was acknowledgment that my values of sustainable energy and public welfare are valued by my peers and industry. This incredible vote of confidence only makes me want to redouble my efforts and strive every day to pay it forward. Who are your biggest influences and inspirations? I owe a great deal to my mother, Kathleen Scheu, raising me as a single mom while going to school herself. She sacrificed a great deal for me. My mentor Ed Nowicki, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), who nominated me for the award, has also been a great influence. He was my first professor in my energy and environment specialization, and he has helped me along the road and steered me towards this renewable energy path. Other influences were the people who have supported me and helped finance an education that I otherwise would not have gotten. We were not a well-off family, and I am what I am because people were there to help me, so that’s always inspired me to give back.
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