With more than 20 years of experience in power generation, electricity transmission and heavy industries, Abdullah Faraque has now made it his mission to ensure that renewable energy assets are every bit as reliable, safe and efficient as their traditional counterparts.

Abdullah’s passion for electrical engineering started early in his career, working on high voltage assets in coal-fired power plants, electricity transmission networks and industrial facilities. “I’ve always been fascinated by finding innovative ways to manage high-voltage assets and optimise their performance, both technically and economically,” he says. 

In 2016, Abdullah joined Stanwell, quickly earning a reputation for his methodical approach to maintaining critical generation assets, problem-solving and his commitment to safety.  After a brief hiatus in 2022 to work with an electricity transmission company in Adelaide, he returned to take on a leadership role at Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo), a wholly owned subsidiary of Stanwell Corporation that provides operations and maintenance (O&M) services for renewable energy assets. 

As the Electrical Systems and Service Delivery Manager for SAMCo, Abdullah champions a culture where safety is non-negotiable, and progress goes hand-in-hand with protecting  people and assets.  

“SAMCo isn’t just here to operate renewable assets,” Abdullah explains. “We’re here to lift standards across the entire industry, and bring the same level of professionalism to the renewable space that we have in place at our thermal power stations.”  

Powering change  

For Abdullah, the move from coal-fired power generation to the renewable sector has represented both a personal and professional challenge. The shift has required him to rethink familiar processes, and adapt his extensive knowledge of high-voltage systems to a rapidly evolving industry.

“From a technical perspective, about 80 to 85 per cent of the work is similar to traditional power generation,” he emphasises. “But operationally, renewables are different. A solar or wind farm can stretch across thousands of hectares, with assets spread over vast areas.  Managing these sites safely and efficiently means reimagining how we work – everything from processes to communication. 

“For example, a single renewable site can cover 7000 to 8000 hectares, often without mobile coverage. That lack of connectivity can make it challenging to maintain communication, access automated systems, or implement safety protocols in real time to perform the work safely. It’s forced us to think creatively, and develop new systems and processes to ensure our teams can work safely and effectively, no matter how isolated the conditions.”  

Abdullah has also been a key advocate for prioritising safety from the design stage of renewable sites, focusing on the integration of layered safety interlocks and barriers. He recounts a recent instance where SAMCo made more than 100 recommendations to a client during a project design review, 80 per cent of which focused on safety measures and improving the maintainability of the site long term. 

“If you compromise on safety, you risk lives,” he says simply. “SAMCo is committed to embedding engineering solutions for operational safety and reliability right from the design phase to ensure these are not afterthoughts.” 

Abdullah’s advocacy isn’t limited to SAMCo’s immediate operations. He believes that safety, reliability and sustainability are shared responsibilities, and actively engages with clients, designers, regulators and industry forums to push for comprehensive operational safety standards from initial design stages across the renewable energy sector.  

“We’re here to work with the entire industry – competitors included – to lift the operational safety standards of renewable energy. It’s about creating a better, safer future for everyone,” he says. 

“This isn’t a short-term goal. It might take 5 to 15 years to bring renewable safety standards to where they need to be, but we’re committed to spending every ounce of energy we have to make it happen. 

“Stanwell has a reputation in thermal generation for being one of the safest and most reliable operators. We want to emulate the same reputation through SAMCo in the renewable energy sector.” 

Cultivating a culture of leadership 

Abdullah believes that creating a safe and efficient workplace starts with empowering people. At SAMCo, every team member is encouraged to take ownership of their role.

“Everyone at SAMCo is a leader in their own space,” he says. “Whether it’s a lone worker maintaining assets at a remote site or a team member contributing to strategy, every voice is valued, and every idea is considered.” 

This philosophy is especially vital for remote operations, where teams are often small and geographically isolated. 

“In remote locations, communication is key,” he notes. “We make regular site visits, organise team days, and ensure open lines of communication so no one feels disconnected or unsupported.” 

As renewable projects scale up in size and complexity, Abdullah is determined to ensure that  SAMCo is ready for what lies ahead. His strategy focuses on workforce development, refining systems and integrating the latest technologies to build a foundation of safety and operational excellence. 

“Training isn’t an extra activity at SAMCo – it’s part of our DNA,” he says. “We identify the required skills our teams will need, track their progress and ensure they’re prepared for the future.” 

For instance, when SAMCo took over operations at Collinsville Solar Farm, Abdullah’s team invested $10,000 per person in specialised training to manage the site’s complex inverter systems. 

“It was about understanding the systems inside and out,” he says. “That kind of knowledge allows us to plan ahead and adapt effectively. It’s this sense of purpose and progress that motivates me every morning. 

“Every day is a step toward the future. It’s about ensuring our people are ready – not just for today’s challenges, but for the scale and complexity of the assets we’ll see in the years to come.”