Periodically we like to check back in with our Energy Central Experts to learn about the latest and greatest from their perspectives, and in doing so we found that Dave Bryant recently passed twenty years with CTC Global. He’s also spent several of those years as a part of our Network of Experts in the Transmission Professionals Group, and so in recognition of both of those milestones we wanted to welcome him back for another entry into our Energy Central Power Perspectives Interview Series.
You can check out Dave’s “New Expert Interview” and last year’s “Check-In Interview,” but keep reading below for our conversation where Dave reflects back on the past two decades in the sector and where he thinks this will take us in the years to come.
Matt Chester: Dave, you’ve been with CTC for just over twenty years now. I want to start by asking how your roles and priorities have evolved over that time.
Dave Bryant: Thanks, Matt. As with any start-up (and this was my fourth), everyone initially wears many hats. In the beginning there were only five of us. Now there are well over 500 and our fifth core production facility is slated to open before the end of this year. My various roles at CTC have been very diverse. We started off with extensive R&D, tooling suite development, QA/QC procedures, and testing, and worked very closely with consultants, utility personnel and project financiers. Our relationships and the knowledge shared by our utility customers helped us improve the ACCC® Conductor and hardware technology and complete many successful pilot projects. While we learned a lot in the lab, we learned equally important lessons in the field. Along the entire journey, I’ve done my best to share what I continue to learn with my colleagues, customers, and industry friends. My strategy has always been to ‘work myself out of a job’ while helping others take over various roles and responsibilities.
MC: Across the sector, it’s no secret that the last twenty years have been transformative. In what ways have the changes that occurred surprised you?
DB: I think the biggest change has been the increased awareness of the link between energy, the environment, and the economy. While much has been done in many parts of the world to deliver more energy to more people in the most sustainable ways, diverse political agendas and regulatory hurdles haven’t necessarily make these tasks easier.
MC: Let’s look at the crystal ball. Say you were magically transported twenty more years in the future—what types of projects can you imagine that CTC would be involved with at that time?
DB: Efficient power delivery has always been our primary objective and I don’t see that changing. While we have focused on building better conductors, we are working on making them smarter too. The evolution of our technology continues, and I believe these advances will help grid operators do an excellent job of linking new sources of energy and energy storge devices with intelligent ‘appliances.’
MC: There’s no shortage of critically important topics taking place today on the grid and across the utility sector. Is there any area that you think should be receiving more attention than it currently is in terms of a hot trend?
DB: I think sustainability goals are extremely important, not just from an emission reduction / climate change point of view, but also from a materials conservation point of view. Our resources are finite. While many leaders are aiming for complete electrification, I think that strategy in the short-term is unwise. I don’t believe all cars should be electric or all homes heated by wires. While we continue to modernize the grid and explore new means of energy storage (including hydrogen) we should avoid turning off base load generation assets and work to modernize them whenever possible. Building a modern grid to support electrification is going to take far longer than a single decade.
MC: These days, it seems more common for professionals to bounce from company to company rather than remain at the same one for as long as you have. What would you say has compelled you to stick with CTC for so long and what unique perspective do you think that affords you?
DB: I didn’t want to miss any of the fun. In all seriousness, convincing highly risk adverse utility engineers to move away from 100-year-old steel core technology to modern composite core technology is no easy task. My job is not quite finished but helping convince hundreds of people to use ACCC technology at more than 1,100 projects in 65 countries by more than 250 major utilities is a good start and very gratifying. I may prefer ICE cars but am pleased that the ACCC® Conductor’s improved efficiency has reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated 20+ million metric tons, so far.
MC: Can you reflect on your time as one of our Energy Central Experts? How has this community been valuable to you and in what ways are you hoping to engage with your peers in the coming years via Energy Central?
DB: I generally write three or four articles or papers every week. I’ve enjoyed sharing my content (or other’s content) on Energy Central on a regular basis for the last 10 years or so. For every paper I write, I usually read at least 10 others. Energy Central is a great place to stay current and learn about other people’s concerns, knowledge, and various points of view.
MC: Any advice to fellow members about how to best engage on Energy Central?
DB: The diversity of content shared on Energy Central is outstanding. I encourage everyone to maintain an open mind and consider all aspects of the various topics discussed. Polarization may be good for magnets, but I don’t think it’s good for society. Hopefully our politicians will eventually agree. Thanks!
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Thanks to Dave Bryant for joining me for this interview and for providing a wealth of insights and expertise to the Energy Central Community. You can trust that Dave will be available for you to reach out and connect, ask questions, and more as an Energy Central member, so be sure to make him feel welcome when you see her across the platform.
The other expert interviews that we’ve completed in this series can be read here, and if you are interested in becoming an expert, you can reach out to me or you can apply here.