Get out of your comfort zone to break new ground

At the end, there’s a quiz to test what they’ve learned. The winners receive a Golden Ticket, giving them the opportunity to spend a day at another R&I entity of their choice.  Angelo Rodriguez Garcia, Project Manager at Laborelec, tells us about his experience at Cylergie, where he chose to use his Golden Ticket.

Can you introduce yourself and explain what you do at R&I?

I’ve worked for the ENGIE Group for seven years and I’ve been Project Manager at Laborelec for two and a half years.

I trained as a mechanical engineer in Louvain-la-Neuve, specialising in energy. As a Project Manager, I’m lucky enough to be able to cover a wide range of subjects without having to go into the technical details (although this is sometimes necessary).

I started at ENGIE as part of a Young Graduate programme in the ENGIE Benelux BU, which at the time included Electrabel, Cofely, Fabricom and Axima. I really enjoyed my first assignment at Cofely. We were close to the field, close to the technicians, close to the customer, and we really understood what we were doing. I then went to Sun4Business as a solar developer. 

I joined Laborelec to get back to something a bit more technical, and the international aspect really appealed to me too. Today, I work in two teams at Laborelec: Solar and Hybrid & FLEX.

In the solar team, I manage innovative projects such as ultra-light photovoltaic panels. It’s a booming field with enormous potential. Our mission is to identify the most promising solutions and reduce the risks associated with young technologies. 

The Hybrid & FLEX team is exploring the flexibility of renewable power plants by combining different technologies. I work on a variety of subjects, such as ancillary services, control of hybrid solar/wind farms, etc.

How would I describe myself? I’m curious, passionate about many subjects and always keen to learn new things.

Why did you choose to spend your Golden Ticket day at Lab Cylergie?

Cylergie works on the energy efficiency of buildings and heating networks, subjects that I don’t deal with on a day-to-day basis. That’s precisely what motivated me. I wanted to discover something new, to see how things work elsewhere. I was vaguely familiar with their activities, but I wanted to understand them in more detail. And as these themes echo my studies and my first professional experience, it made me want to go there.

How was your day? Do you have any special memories?

What struck me first was the human scale of Cylergie. It’s small compared with Laborelec, where there are 400 of us. I found the same atmosphere I loved at Sun4Business, a small entity within ENGIE. It was really enjoyable.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. It took me back to subjects that I’d covered during my studies and at Cofely, such as clean rooms and energy efficiency. What I learnt about heating networks also reminded me of my studies, but there have, of course, been some major technological advances since then. It made me feel a little nostalgic!

I’ve also gained a better understanding of how they work, which is very different from Laborelec. They’re developing their service offering, an area where Laborelec has experience, so they were keen to get my feedback. I was able to talk to them about a number of subjects, including solar thermal energy. It was a valuable exchange.

Did you discover anything unexpected?

Yes, everything was new to me. I didn’t really know much about Cylergie before. Now I know what they do, I’ve met some passionate people and made some contacts. I’ve also discovered that they work with colleagues from Laborelec who I see every day!

Has this day changed your point of view on a subject, a technology or a way of working?

Yes, I’ve realised that there isn’t just one way of doing things. For example, they told me about hybrid heating systems, where a heat pump or biomass boiler is added to an existing installation. This requires fine-tuned regulation, which echoes the hybrid renewable power plants I’m working on. There are some interesting similarities.

Have you been able to use any of the contacts or lessons you’ve learnt since then?

Not yet directly, but I know that these contacts will be invaluable. If I ever need to work on biomass or heating network projects, I’ll know who to contact. 

Do you think this type of cross-team immersion would be beneficial for other R&I employees?

Absolutely. This is something that should be encouraged. There is an incredible wealth of expertise within the ENGIE Group, and we often only see the tip of the iceberg. Even within Laborelec, there are a lot of things I don’t know. It’s essential to get out of your comfort zone and look elsewhere.

If you had another Golden Ticket, where would you like to go?

I’m interested in acquisitions and new business development. I love the dynamic of small structures, which can get lost when they grow. I’d love to explore that side of things, like the Factory projects in Singapore. And I’ll keep moving towards the unknown. The more I learn, the happier I am.

What advice would you give to future Golden Ticket winners?

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to discover new things. It’s a golden opportunity!

A final word?

Many thanks to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome: Jérémie, Maxence, Martial, Angel, Mathilde, Arnat, Gaël, Arnaud... Thank you all, it was a great experience.