In this interview, we speak with Pravin Sankhwar, a highly accomplished electrical engineer with extensive experience in both research and industry. Pravin shares insights into his journey in engineering, the challenges he’s faced, and his thoughts on emerging technologies like electric vehicles. He also offers valuable advice for aspiring engineers and talks about his professional goals and ongoing projects. Let’s dive into Pravin’s experiences and expertise in the world of electrical engineering.
Pravin Sankhwar’s Background
We were curious about Pravin Sankhwar’s background, so we asked him to share something about his early life and educational qualifications.
Pravin: I have been fascinated by science and technology since my early childhood. Having presented at many state-level science exhibitions during high school became a building block for my academic career in the science and technology industry. I have developed an understanding of many basic concepts of science and technology from real-world applications and experiments. When I stepped into the world of engineering as an undergraduate professional, there were many opportunities I explored to learn the operations and design of electrical power systems. My research projects in both the design and enhancement of power systems led me to enter the professional world in the petroleum industry. My career in the petroleum industry resulted in an aspiring career for graduate studies in electrical engineering. I earned my graduate degree in electrical engineering with a concentration in advanced electrical power systems from renowned institutes in the USA. Ever since I have had an opportunity to apply my technical knowledge both as a working professional and a researcher.
How Pravin Started in Engineering
We wanted to know how Pravin got started in engineering and what inspired him to become a licensed PE.
Pravin: Engineering is the building block of the real world. My roots from the beginning were oriented toward science and technology. I prepared for national-level engineering entrance exams and was able to secure a position in one of the leading institutes in India (Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur) as an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering. My strengths from a strong knowledge of physics and mathematics resulted in this successful accomplishment at Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur. Industry experience ever since led me to earn not only a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan but also earn the highest achievement for engineers as a Licensed Professional Engineer. The motivation to achieve PE designation required consistent hard work and professional experience in the engineering design of electrical power systems. My motto is to allow utmost safe electrical engineering design projects that ensure compliance with engineering standards. So, knowledge and expertise in engineering codes and standards, professional knowledge, and performance in PE exams led me to earn this highly revered designation of Professional Engineer.
LEED AP and ICC Credentials in Work
We asked Pravin how his credentials, like LEED® AP and ICC Electrical Inspector, complement each other in his work.
Pravin: My credentials as LEED® AP (BD+C) allow me to lead sustainability efforts in the commercial market. Since buildings have a larger footprint in greenhouse gas emissions, it becomes important to reduce their environmental impacts from both lighting and power consumption of energy. LEED® credentials allow professionals like me to gauge the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. Additionally, my ICC Electrical Inspector certification showcases a deep level of understanding of the electrical engineering standards (by NFPA). This allows me to certify electrical infrastructure for its compliance with electrical engineering safety standards such as NFPA 70. Ideally, someone in my profession would seek licensures that complement PE thus, both LEED® AP (BD+C) and ICC Electrical Inspector relate to electrical power engineering design career professionals.
A Challenging Project for Pravin
We were interested in hearing about one of the most challenging projects Pravin has worked on, and how his qualifications helped him.
Pravin: In an engineering career every day we face challenges. As a true professional the idea is to solve the problems as they arise. Timely response and address of the problems allows me to tackle these challenges. However, it is key to note qualifications and experience help with making educated decisions quickly and efficiently. For example, I remember ending up with questions from construction contractors about the installation of electrical power conductors and their appropriate means and methods of installation. My knowledge of electrical power engineering standards allows me to answer them promptly and with accuracy. Apart from these daily problem-solving activities in electrical design engineering projects, I engage with large infrastructure development projects in lighting and power designs. These projects get challenging given their magnitude and impact. I deal with these projects by simplifying them into small steps before climbing up to the final milestone. Each step comes with solving the problem one at a time and then leading the way towards the final goals of the projects by implementing solutions that are both cost-effective and energy-efficient for these large infrastructure development projects in lighting and power designs.
Applying Engineering Expertise
With both an MS and BS in Electrical Engineering, we were curious how Pravin applies his engineering expertise in his career.
Pravin: The answer lies in how well professionals are able to analyze engineering problems before applying the appropriate solution. With an academic background in electrical engineering from both bachelor’s and master’s studies, I have gained insights into power systems protection and its stability. I was fortunate to get the best advisors during my academic studies who helped me develop strong fundamentals and a foundation for the engineering profession. So, I relate every engineering problem to the fundamentals of power engineering which helps me apply them to the practical world. Additionally, I have earned IEEE Senior Membership and IEEE Standards Association Principal Membership. These accomplishments allow me to learn the latest developments in the industry and recommend improvements to the existing standards such as the NESC followed by power engineers.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Technology and Urban Design
We asked Pravin how he sees EV technology impacting infrastructure and urban design in the future.
Pravin: Electric Vehicles and their charging infrastructure are growing rapidly per many engineering and research studies. So, I believe there is a scope for improved decarbonization efforts from EVs and their charging infrastructure. My published research work in a renowned journal presents EV transition. The preparedness of power utility companies to meet the rising energy demand from EV charging infrastructure is the key concern. Prediction of the EV charging demand and respective installation of charging infrastructure which allows bi-directional power flow are some of the areas I touched base on when I presented at major EV and energy conferences recently. The idea is to predict the EV loads accurately as they are intermittent and therefore forecast the demand curves to ensure the utility companies are able to handle this energy demand both during normal working hours and peak loading times. So, cities require planning to strategically add EV charging stations and allow bi-directional power flow from V-2-G (Vehicle-2-Grid) concepts.
Challenges in EV Charging Stations
We were curious about the main challenges engineers face when setting up EV charging stations, so we asked Pravin for his insights.
Pravin: The major challenges faced are related to the identification of the ideal location, proper choice of type of charger (whether slow or fast), and balancing the demand for the utility companies with large-scale installation of these chargers. Many other challenges lie with ideal charging times from these chargers. There are limitations to how fast an EV can be charged from an electrical safety standpoint. So, there is a lot of research required to not only improve the charging times but also the level of safety from their usage at increased power capacities. But challenges are meant to be overcome by providing solutions from experts in the power engineering industry.
Pravin’s Professional Goals
We wanted to hear about Pravin’s professional goals for the next few years and any upcoming projects he’s excited about.
Pravin: My professional and research goals are aligned towards benefiting society from the projects I engage in from electrical power distribution systems design to engaging in research to improve the power systems safety. My upcoming research project titled “Power Industry Economics, Renewable Energy Systems, Electric Vehicles Engineering Design & Applications” is something that will touch base on how we can build a sustainable model in the power industry from renewable energy and its integration for electrification with electric vehicle charging.
Staying Updated with Industry Trends
We asked Pravin how he stays updated with the latest trends and innovations in his field.
Pravin: I attend major industry conferences both as a speaker and active participant to learn the latest developments. For example, my presentation at one of the global conferences won the best paper award for my initiatives on how to improve power resiliency. When I interact with industry and academic professionals during these events, I learn from their backgrounds and experiences to keep updated with the latest and greatest developments in the research industry. With industry advancing towards availability of vast amounts of data and its interpretation by use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. Many of such innovative tools assist with learning advancements in the electrical power industry. Additionally, I do recommend reading tech magazines.
Advice for Aspiring Engineers
We were interested to know what advice Pravin would give to someone just starting in electrical engineering or sustainable design.
Pravin: Stay focused on the three major pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. Engineering aspirants in the power industry must focus on how to improve the safety and efficiency of the system. A simple demand response problem from accurate prediction of energy demand curves would become complicated when integrating large distributed energy generation resources such as the Vehicle-2-Grid (V-2-G) concept. So, power engineers aim to ensure efficient, resilient, and high power quality as a measurement of services provided to their customers. My advice for young electrical engineering professionals and researchers is to never stop learning. Be ready for challenges and learn from them as you grow in your professional career. Remember to seek mentorship from experts in the industry.
Thank You
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Pravin Sankhwar for taking the time to share his experiences, insights, and expertise with us. His journey in electrical engineering and his vision for the future of technology and sustainability are truly inspiring. We appreciate his valuable contributions to the field and look forward to seeing the impact of his work in the years to come. Thank you again, Pravin, for this insightful conversation.
