Most engineers entering the industry today will never hear the sound that built modern grid protection. That unmistakable click of an electromechanical relay. But I did. It wasn't just a sound. It was the heartbeat of the power grid. I feel incredibly fortunate to have started my career during one of the biggest transformations in protection engineering. At ONEE - Branche Electricité Morocco, I worked with the legendary Brown Boveri LZ31. Back then, protection engineering felt physical. Relays clicked. Targets dropped. You didn't just configure a relay. You understood the physics behind every movement. Then the industry evolved. I transitioned to digital protection using GE Multilin D60, ABB REL316, and Schneider Electric (AREVA) MiCOM relays. The technology became faster. Smarter. More connected. But one thing never changed. Our mission. • Protect the grid. • Protect the equipment. • Protect people's lives. That journey taught me three lessons: • Physics never changes. Only the technology does. • Engineers who master the fundamentals become stronger protection engineers. • Today, as AI data centers, inverter-based resources, and BESS reshape our power systems, protective relays are becoming some of the smartest and most critical devices on the grid. A special thank you to my former manager, Said Najm, for believing in me from day one and teaching me the fundamentals of protection engineering. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my career. Technology evolves. Responsibility doesn't. I'm grateful my career began at the intersection of electromechanical protection and the digital era. What was the first protection relay that shaped your engineering journey? I'd love to hear your story. P.S. I shared a photo of the exact Brown Boveri LZ31 relay from my early days at ONEE - Branche Electricité Morocco in the first comment. Hanane Oudli Hanane Global #ElectricalEngineering #PowerSystems #ProtectionEngineering #RelayProtection #BESS #GridModernization #EngineeringCareer
📌Looking back at this machine, it's hard not to appreciate how far protection technology has come. Being the first and only female engineer at the national level doing hands-on commissioning work on these relays was both a challenge and an incredible privilege. What legacy hardware did you start your journey with?
📌Here is the legendary Brown Boveri LZ31 up close! Fun fact: The exact reason I was hired at ONEE Morocco back then was to lead the massive effort of replacing these electromechanical distance relays with modern digital protections. Looking back, it was a massive turning point. It gave me the rare opportunity to truly discover both worlds. The physical and the digital. To make it even more memorable, I was the first and only female engineer on the team doing so. What legacy tech did you get your hands dirty on early in your career? (Image attached below).
📌 My former colleagues who worked with me on the Brown Boveri LZ31 and protection systems: Said Najm Jaouad BOUKDOUR khalid ELASSALI
Thanks for the kind repost, Desmond Anane.
📌Hanane Global Where Global Vision Becomes Absolute Power.
Thank you for sharing your journey, Hanane. Your experience perfectly illustrates that while technology evolves rapidly, strong engineering fundamentals remain the foundation of reliable power systems. With the rapid deployment of utility-scale BESS and renewable energy worldwide, protection, control, and grid integration are becoming strategic differentiators rather than supporting functions. We look forward to exchanging more ideas and exploring opportunities to bring these concepts into real-world projects together.
Exceptional post, Hanane. Your journey beautifully bridges the legacy of electromechanical protection with the intelligence of today's digital era. It is inspiring to see how you honor the past while embracing the future. Your message reinforces a timeless truth: technologies will continue to evolve, but engineers who deeply understand the fundamentals will always lead innovation with confidence. Thank you for reminding us that the true purpose of protection engineering has never changed—to safeguard people, equipment, and the reliability of our power systems. Your story is an inspiration to every electrical engineer who believes that continuous learning, humility, and strong fundamentals are the real keys to a lasting career. Wishing you continued success as you empower and inspire the global engineering community. ⚡🌍
Your journey is a powerful reminder that great protection engineers are built on strong fundamentals, not just advanced technology. From the iconic electromechanical Brown Boveri LZ31 to today's intelligent digital relays, you have witnessed and embraced one of the most remarkable transformations in power system protection. Thank you, Hanane, for sharing such an inspiring story. Your respect for engineering fundamentals, combined with your passion for continuous learning, is a valuable lesson for every engineer. As we move toward AI-driven substations, HVDC, renewable integration, and BESS, your message reminds us that while technology evolves, engineering principles, responsibility, and integrity remain timeless. Wishing you continued success in inspiring the next generation of protection engineers. ⚡👏
📌 Here is the LZ31 in all its mechanical glory! One thing digital relays will never duplicate is the mechanical tactile feedback—adjusting taps, verifying restraint elements, and watching disk movement during injection tests. For those who worked on these: What was your go-to test set back in the day? (Omicron, Doble, Megger, secondary injection test sets?)