Senior Researcher/Engineer: Wind at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About The Job

• The CSIR has a vacancy for a Principal or Senior Researcher/Engineer in the Smart Places cluster. The purpose of the role is to maintain and grow CSIR Energy Centre’s knowledge base with respect to wind resource assessment/mapping, microscale modelling, wind farm layout, wind power forecasting and wind turbine generator technology development, including its components and systems, in order to provide support for the South African Wind industry. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead projects, research and investigations on wind resource assessment/mapping, microscale modelling, wind farm layout, wind power forecasting, and State-of-Research Market Intelligence;
• Provide leadership in formulating Research, Development and Innovation strategies and road maps;
• Provide direction to the Energy Demand & Supply research group on the long term development of wind resource modelling techniques and methodologies;
• Initiate and supervise technical reports, expert studies and investigations, articles, conference papers and presentations aimed at the clients need in the energy sector and research institutions and academia, locally and internationally;
• Remain current on new wind resource modelling techniques and methodologies and turbine technology, to understand latest technical details on new products and updates/revisions to existing product;
• Provides training on wind resource assessment/mapping, microscale modelling, wind farm layout, wind power forecasting techniques and methodologies and related topics to CSIR employees and externally,
• Advise of university students on their thesis projects;
• Formulate research proposals and develop relationships with potential clients and collaborators in Research and Development around wind resource assessment and modelling, and related topics.
• Research and/or conference publication/s and presentations initiated and conducted on wind resource assessment/mapping, modelling and forecasting;
• Advise both the internal and external (public and private) industries on the optimal sites for future renewable energy development;
• Support CSIR business development through identifying wind energy industry services for the research group;
• Provide thought-leadership on future energy business opportunities for the South African Renewable energy industry Wind, solar PV, biogas, hydrogen, etc.);
• Lead global technology and knowledge transfer coordination in the energy space;
• Provide thought-leadership on possible strategy interventions for growing the South African energy industry, specifically in the renewable energy domain;
• Source and manage contract research and development and ensure adherence to schedule and budget;
• Collaborate with CSIR’s Business Development and Commercialisation (BD&C) to conceptual energy-related business opportunities;
• Support the energy supply & demand research agenda (Resource Assessment & forecasting as well as wind Energy).

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• An Honours degree in science or engineering with at least six years relevant science of which three years should be in Renewable Energy research, project development and/or manufacturing environment, in particular the wind sector;
• A Master’s degree in sciences, or engineering will be advantageous;
• Experience in the wind forecasting and proficiency in statistical analysis of data, experience manipulating large data sets will be an added advantage ;
• Experience in conducting and supervising studies related to wind resource assessment/mapping, microscale modelling, wind farm layout and wind power forecasting;
• Experience in presenting at conferences or industry forums;
• Ability to create clear and accurate technical and analytical reports;
• Ability to use MATLab (MATrix LABoratory), Python or C++;
• Ability to lead a technical team;
• Ability to analyse meteorological data obtained from different sources, i.e. masts, SODAR and LiDAR;
• Ability to work as part of a team, both leading and as a key member, influencing decisions and reacting positively to challenges:
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experience with working knowledge of associated software tools, e.g. ArcGIS;
• Knowledge of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and wind resource analysis tools commonly used within the wind power industry, e.g. the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP) microscale model and the Karlsruhe Atmospheric Mesoscale Model (KAMM);
• Familiar with Wind modelling tools, e.g. Windfarmer, WindPro, Windographer, etc.;
• Familiarity with condition monitoring, downtime analysis and forecasting;
• An understanding of the cost structure of wind generation technologies and possible areas for improvement, i.e. increased efficiency and reduced cost ;
• Understand the components of, and factors influencing Levelised cost of Electricity (LCOE) of wind turbine generators;
• Strong organization and analytical skills;
• Understanding of wind energy industry measurement techniques and standards.
• Experience in the South African renewable energy industry / renewable energy sources;
• Strong network in the public and private sector as links to the Wind Energy/ Renewable Energy / Energy Transition contract R&D funding opportunities.