There is nothing certain in the world... - this can be seen perfectly in the energy sector, which has been undergoing dynamic changes recently. Damian Kądrowski, an employee of PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna, talks about what it is like to work in this sector and what kind of competences a degree in power engineering from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Lodz University of Technology can provide.
You graduated in power engineering from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. How do you assess your choice years later?
Who can imagine life nowadays without a smartphone, turning on the light after dark, having a warm bath, warming up at home after a winter walk or cooling down in an air-conditioned room on a hot summer day? Meeting these daily needs would not be possible if it were not for the work of a whole team of people responsible for the generation and distribution of electricity and heat, the design and construction of power, heating and cooling equipment, used not only in our homes, but also in industrial facilities. I am delighted to be part of a sector that responds to all these needs at a time of dynamic change.
The energy industry faces great challenges, especially in the current fuel and electricity crisis. How did your major in power engineering prepare you for the challenges currently facing the energy industry?
First of all, I think that the energy transition that is taking place in Poland, but also in Europe as a whole, is opening up a lot of opportunities for energy graduates. This can be seen in terms of the changing new technologies used in households (photovoltaic panels, heat pumps) as well as in large-scale power generation. New facilities are being built (e.g., offshore wind farms), but existing facilities are also being developed (e.g., extensive installations to reduce the environmental impact of power plant operation).
The scope of knowledge and skills gained during my studies extended to include the latest trends in conventional and renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and biomass power plants, as well as the design and construction of flow machines (i.e. pumps, compressors and even aircraft engines) has allowed me to find my feet in the energy industry on the job market.
Since your first year at university, you have been involved in various student organizations. Which ones?
The first was the Faculty Student Council, then the Faculty Scholarship Committee. In my second year of study, I joined the mechanical section of the GUST project, operating as part of the Student Power Engineering Research Group at the Institute of Fluid Power Machinery. During my first year in the project, I developed and fabricated the mechanical components of a small wind turbine with a horizontal axis of rotation adapted for operation in an urban area. The developed prototype won first place in the International Small Wind Turbine Contest. For the next three years I acted as project leader for the GUST project.
What did you do at Gust Project?
I was in charge of managing the team, recruiting new members, developing and enforcing schedules and cost estimates for the work in progress, procurement, promoting the project and fundraising for its activities. During this time, the project developed and also fabricated three more wind turbine prototypes, placing on the podium of the ISWTC competition three times (two 1st and one 3rd place). In addition, we conducted research in the field of aerodynamics and mechanics of wind turbines, the results of which we published in the form of scientific articles and presentations at scientific conferences or trade fairs. The project's activities have been continued to the present by our successors.
Participation in student organizations has allowed me to gain a lot of experience both in soft skills (teamwork, project management, and presenting analysis/research results) and in the design or fabrication of equipment components. This experience was appreciated by the employers where I started my career.
You were thrown in at the deep end as soon as you graduated...
That's true. I think that one of the biggest challenges in my career was precisely the beginning of my adventure with full-time work in the energy sector, i.e., participation in the ministerial program "Energy for the Future". During my one-year internship, I had the opportunity to learn about the specifics of working at the Ministry of Energy, the headquarters of leading companies in the energy sector (PGE, PGNiG, PSE, Orlen) and at the Bełchatów Power Plant owned by PGE GiEK, a PGE Group company. The implementation of tasks from different sectors of the energy industry allowed me to gain a lot of experience, which makes it easier to overcome challenges in my current post.
You work now at PGE Mining and Conventional Energy as an energy planning and analysis specialist. What do you do in your job?
I am responsible for the process of reporting on the operation of power plants in PGE GiEK Branches, the development of electricity production plans, the administration and development of the production monitoring system as well as the preparation of analyses related to the optimization of operation and the modernization of existing and construction of new installations in power plants. In my work, the most important thing for me is to expand my knowledge, acquire new skills and use my previous experience to take on new challenges. I have to be very focused in doing so - accuracy and reliability in preparing reports and analyses is the foundation for successful work in my position.
What do you value about Lodz University of Technology?
During my studies, I had the opportunity to attend the classes of many excellent lecturers with extensive experience from working in industry, during which I gained practical and current knowledge of mechanics and power engineering. In addition, the university's authorities and staff created excellent conditions for students to develop their activities in student organizations, which allowed me to gain experience appreciated by employers from the very first year of my studies. It is good to find an environment that allows you to develop, such as Lodz University of Technology.
Interviewee: Dr Aleksandra Pawlik
Graphics: Filip Podgórski
Photos: PGE Company and private archives of the protagonist.
PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna is one of the companies comprising the PGE Capital Group - the largest company in the electricity sector in Poland. The company is the largest producer of lignite, whose extraction accounts for more than 87% of the country's total, and the largest generator of electricity in Poland, covering more than 36% of the country's energy needs.