Meet the Team: Daniel Luiz | OWC Iberia
At OWC, our teams are constantly expanding into more locations, in expertise, and in sectors of influence. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we invite you to get to know our team members so you can meet the energy behind change.
This week, we travel to Spain to meet with Daniel Ruiz, a Principal Consultant with OWC Iberia!
Position: Principal Consultant
Office: OWC Iberia
Favourite Sing: R.E.M. – Nightswimming
Hobbies Outside of Work: Running, any game with my children, and watching basketball or a good TV series if time allows!
Can you give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at OWC?
No two days are the same but my work typically involves reviewing project work from the team, conducting design reviews or advising on technology selection.
I mainly focus on the technical analysis of PV systems, including energy yield assessments for greenfield or operational projects. There is always some BD/proposal work to squeeze in – calls to discuss potential projects and the methodologies we might apply.
What inspired you to join your profession?
Civil engineering offered the perfect blend of creativity and logic, and working in the PV industry gave me the opportunity to have a tangible impact on multiple projects across many countries.
I have always been drawn to solving complex problems, and the idea of applying my skills and contributing to energy infrastructure that supports communities and enables clean energy is incredibly motivating.
Can you share with us something exciting you are currently working on?
Right now, I am involved in two challenging projects.
The first one is a detailed engineering assessment for a PV system including BESS on an offshore platform. It is unique in the sense that it requires careful consideration of environmental and physical constraints, available technology, and system reliability over a 30-year lifespan.
The second one is an R&D project funded by ABL in which we are developing a tool to assess ground measured data. It is a stimulating challenge because we are designing the tool to automate most of the standard process, enable users to investigate issues with data at even one-minute granularity, and ultimately improve the user experience. The goal is to make the tool more intuitive and efficient for detailed analysis than existing commercial solutions.
Looking ahead, what do you think is key to driving sustainability in your region?
If we are talking about energy sustainability, PV stands out. It produces clean electricity almost everywhere, e.g. ground mounted, floating, agrivoltaic, rooftop, with little compromise to future generations (fun fact: a 2021 study confirmed that between 2012 and 2016, the PV industry’s cumulative greenhouse gas emissions were surpassed by the emissions it prevented since 1975).
However, when it comes to the sustainability of the PV industry itself, the top challenges are supply chain transparency, cleaner equipment manufacturing, and improved recycling methods.
Besides work, what do you enjoy most working within the ABL Group?
The people, without a doubt. There is a great culture here, not only with colleagues I have known for over a decade but also with those who have recently joined and bring fresh perspectives. From upper management to juniors, everyone is genuinely supportive. It is rewarding to be part of a group that values human connection, especially when working remotely.
The recently opened office in Madrid is a big plus, it has become a great hub for meeting colleagues from across Spain and Portugal, and even welcoming those from other ABL Group outposts!
