For Anshdeep Chawla, electrical engineering was never just about theory – it was about seeing how ideas come to life in the real world.
"I was interested in mathematics and sciences in school, but I always felt there was a missing connection between what I was learning and its real-world applications," Anshdeep said.
That curiosity led him to internships in the power industry and ultimately CS Energy’s graduate program.
“I wanted more boots-on-the-ground experience, and that’s what turned my attention to CS Energy and its power generation assets,” he said. “I haven’t looked back since.”
Just a few months into the program, Anshdeep found himself working at one of the largest projects underway across the business – the Callide Unit C3 and C4 major overhaul.
Learning on the front line of a major overhaul
Few graduate engineers find themselves involved in a major overhaul so early in their careers, but for Anshdeep, it became a standout experience in his first rotation.
“My first rotation was very busy right from the beginning,” he said.
“Joining the Callide C3 and C4 overhaul two months into the graduate program helped me build the knowledge and practical skills needed to contribute safely and effectively on site."
To help do this, Anshdeep immersed himself in site activities including attending pre-starts and meetings, while taking every opportunity to get involved in work across the plant.
“Being present during the overhaul was a huge experience in itself,” he said.
“Seeing the scale of work that goes into these overhauls and being a part of the work on site has been extremely valuable for my learning and development as an engineer.”
Growing technical skills through practical experience
“One of the most valuable learning experiences so far has been supporting the commissioning of new low-voltage air circuit breakers during the overhaul,” Anshdeep said.
“The work involved interpreting electrical drawings and schematics, completing testing and inspections, and validating that equipment operated as intended.
“It taught me a lot about how new plant equipment is commissioned.
“The commissioning process required close collaboration with contracted electricians and effective communication to make sure any issues could be identified and resolved.”
While technical skills have been a significant focus, Anshdeep says some of his greatest learning has come from the people around him.
“The best part of the graduate program so far has been being around the people at Callide,” he said.
“Whether it’s technicians, engineers or electricians, there are so many experienced people on site and being able to learn from them has been a huge privilege.”
Building experience across the business
What stood out most to Anshdeep about CS Energy’s graduate program was the variety of experiences on offer.
Looking ahead, he will have opportunities to work across sites including Kogan Creek Power Station, Chinchilla Battery, Greenbank Battery, and the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant project.
For now, his focus is simple – spend as much time on site as possible and continue learning from the people around him.
“I’m looking forward to building a deeper understanding of the electrical systems across CS Energy’s assets and learning directly from the engineers and technicians who work with them every day,” Anshdeep said.