Smarter Grid Solutions appoints new CTO to drive long-term product strategy

Global energy software provider Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) is driving its ambitious product program forward with the appointment of Euan Davidson to Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

SGS’s software solutions connect clean energy producers and other low carbon technologies to the grid, helping grid operators tackle the climate emergency and moving the grid and market towards net zero carbon emission targets.

Euan will be based in the company’s headquarters in Glasgow and will take a lead role in advancing its flagship Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) software products to meet the growing demand of different Distributed Energy Resource (DER) customers. This includes energy asset owners, energy as a service providers, virtual power plant operators, wires networks and system operators.

The new role will see him develop SGS’s product range, drive new business with energy asset operator, distribution wires utility and microgrids customers. He will also look at broadening the application of SGS’s products to a wider set of value streams in digital, smart, clean and resilient energy systems.

Since joining SGS in 2012 as the company’s first R&D engineer, Euan has significantly contributed to the delivery of the firm’s research, product, system delivery and go to market strategies. He has led significant company projects, including SGS’s system delivery to Scottish Power's Accelerating Renewable Connections trial in East Lothian and the Borders, and more recently the company’s first product delivery in Germany.

Prior to joining SGS, Euan worked on developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions in the energy, aerospace and marine sectors at University of Strathclyde's Institute of Energy and Environment.

Brent Marshall, CEO at Smarter Grid Solutions said: “This is a pivotal time for SGS as we are working towards an ambitious program of product releases to meet the needs of our markets and customers.

“We have appointed Euan because not only does he possess the deep technical expertise to pursue world-class solutions, but he has a vision which aligns with SGS’s technology and product roadmaps.

“We want to create energy solutions of and for the future. We have already enabled the management of over 425 MW of DER and delivered over €200 million of cost savings and value to our customers worldwide. We aim to have a total of 3GW of clean energy assets under control in 2021 and Euan’s work will be instrumental in achieving this.”

Commenting on his appointment, Euan Davidson, CTO at Smarter Grid Solutions said: “It's an exciting time to be taking the reins on technology development at such an innovative company. Right now the climate emergency is of utmost importance and we are carrying out essential work to decarbonise and balance our grid supply and demand with renewable energy.

“During my time at SGS, I have seen pioneering work carried out by the firm, including its role in the launch of an ‘energy-as-a-service’ platform with SSE in the UK, and work with Con Edison and GI Energy to deploy and integrate large utility scale batteries in New York.

“We are going through an extraordinary period of growth and are reaching new and exciting markets, including Canada and India. I am excited to lead the delivery of our range of world-class DERMS solutions and continue to deliver green energy innovation to our customers on a global scale.”