Zakaria El-Ramly, MEng/71, PhD/75
Zakaria El-Ramly, MEng/71, PhD/75
Zakaria El-Ramly describes himself as a “practical academic.” His company ZE PowerGroup Inc. reflects his zeal for tackling problems in the energy industry by looking ahead of the curve and identifying what’s next.
[Published Ingenious Spring 2011]
With energy prices in Ontario expected to rise by 46 per cent over the next five years, energy-saving tips are becoming a frequent feature in local media. If debates over time-of-use rates, the impact of the HST, and large investments in green-energy projects and infrastructure didn’t catch your attention, the spike in your bill with the onset of winter would have.
To help provide relief, the provincial government is introducing the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, which takes effect in 2011. The benefit should reduce Ontarians’ hydro bills by 10 per cent.
The brouhaha over the cost of energy doesn’t surprise Zakaria El-Ramly, MEng/71, PhD/75. He’s worked in the energy industry for 45 years, spending a large portion of his career at BC Hydro before founding his own company.
“As a society, we haven’t been able to establish a balance between a free market and control in the energy sector. Canada is a long way from a stable business environment,” he says.
El-Ramly, president and CEO of ZE PowerGroup Inc., has a diverse energy background spanning engineering, energy management, rates and regulation, policy and business development, and energy trading. He brings all his experience to ZE PowerGroup, providing strategic consulting and software development focused on the needs of the energy industry.
“Over my career, the biggest change in the industry has been the degree to which energy is regulated. There have been attempts to deregulate price and allow an open market,” he says. “Now we see policy—guiding principles rather than regulation—guide aspects beyond price, such as renewable energy sources and carbon emissions.”
Carleton’s latest program in energy, a new master’s degree in sustainable energy offered jointly by the faculties of Public Affairs and Engineering and Design, addresses the industry in a way that appeals to El-Ramly.
When the first students begin the program in September 2011, they will receive advanced training in sustainable energy across two distinct disciplines: engineering and public policy. With a choice of studying sustainable energy policy, mechanical energy conversion or efficient electrical energy systems, students in all streams will be exposed to issues surrounding the policy and engineering possibilities that will improve energy production and delivery systems.
“Carleton’s approach is a good one. It will help the industry,” says El-Ramly. “Carleton adopts social and academic problems, has an industry focus and provides a practical education.”
El-Ramly’s own education at Carleton was in mechanical and aeronautical engineering—his doctorate was on how large aircraft wings affected smaller aircraft behind them. When the energy sector found him after graduation, he realized his academic background allowed him to think clearly about the issues and he rose through the ranks at BC Hydro, working in business lines as diverse as marketing, rates and forecasting, and business development.
When he saw deregulation coming, El-Ramly left his executive vice-president position at Powerex (a subsidiary of BC Hydro) to start ZE PowerGroup in 1995.
“I realized one had to stay ahead of the curve or fizzle,” he says. “I had seen small ideas grow into big ones at Carleton, and the power of new ideas has stayed with me.”
Recalling transformative projects he saw at Carleton—the Wired City Project, a revolutionary experiment in telecommunications in the 1970s, and work on integrated circuits that lead to microchips—El-Ramly embarked on his own “small idea”.
ZE PowerGroup marries policy and software, a testament to El-Ramly’s flexible thinking. The strategic consulting and software development firm serves the emerging needs of energy markets. Its ZEMA software is on its way to becoming the global industry standard for data management and analysis. The company was named Data Management House of the Year in 2009 and 2010 by EnergyRisk, the magazine for commodity traders and risk managers.
“I’m a practical academic,” says El-Ramly. “I wanted to do something that would serve society.”