Clifford Ondieki, a power systems engineer who recently completed a master’s degree in engineering management at Arden University in Berlin, shares his thoughts on the electrical engineering industry and the technology to watch.

1. What initially interested you in the electrical engineering/coil winding industry?

I was drawn in by a fundamental engineering truth: grid reliability is decided by physical components. The precision of a coil winding dictates the efficiency, thermal resilience and lifetime of transformers and motors – the backbone of our infrastructure.

This perspective became actionable with applied research. For our IEEE award-winning study on EV infrastructure, a core constraint was the real-world performance of distribution transformers defined by their winding design and materials. The research proved that strategic, component-aware planning could improve equitable access by 21% without pushing hardware beyond its limits. The lesson was clear: you cannot model a reliable, future-proof grid with unreliable assumptions about its physical components.

2. Can you give me a brief history of your work in the industry?

My career has focused on turning systemic bottlenecks into automated solutions. I began my career in voltage stability analysis for renewable grid connection studies, where I saw how much skilled engineering time was being wasted on repetitive compliance tasks.

I then pivoted to building software tools to automate these workflows. This methodology was proven in peer-reviewed research (IEEE ETECOM), where we developed a model to optimize EV charger rollout for both grid stability and social equity. I now apply this ‘automation of insight’ to projects like the Berlin Grid Digital Twin, developing tools that can reduce months-long congestion and compliance studies into just days. The goal is straightforward: to clear the technical logjams stalling critical energy projects.

3. Why do you choose to attend CWIEME Berlin?

I attend CWIEME for essential validation. It’s the bridge between theoretical models and manufacturing reality.

My work in grid integration relies on precise assumptions about how equipment behaves under stress. CWIEME gives me the opportunity to pressure-test those assumptions directly with the material scientists and production engineers who define what is possible. For me, this dialogue isn’t optional – It’s the foundation of credible, bankable engineering, ensuring that the digital solutions we build remain grounded in physical truth.

4. What are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s event?

I’m looking forward to seeing the next step in ‘Design for Integration’. I want to see components that are born with their digital twin – transformers, drives and power electronics delivered not just with datasheets, but with validated simulation models and clear data interfaces.

Why? Because a component that is easier to model and certify can shave months off a project’s timeline. I’m also keen to connect with others on the practical challenges of regulations like Redispatch 2.0, where the rubber meets the road for grid stability in the energy transition.

5. What technology do you think is going to have the biggest impact over the next ten years?

The biggest impact won’t be a single technology, but the systematic automation of compliance and planning. 

Currently, the industry faces a quantified crisis: projects are delayed by years, partly due to manual, repetitive analysis for grid codes. The solution is integrating digital twins with regulatory rulebooks to create “Compliance-as-Code” systems. The ultimate impact isn’t just smarter software. It’s faster decisions, unlocked capital and the acceleration of the wider energy transition. The organizations that master this shift will convert their engineering effort from a cost centre into a strategic accelerator.