Grounding and Lightning Protection (SPDA)

Paulo Edmundo da Fonseca Freire, born in 1955, Director of PAIOL Engenharia. Electrical Engineer (1978) and Master in Power Systems (1984) from PUC-RJ, PhD in Geosciences from Unicamp (2018). 45 years of experience in studies and design of earthing and SPDA systems for power grids and industrial, commercial and transportation facilities. Former lecturer at Gama Filho University, instructor/speaker at courses and events, and author of papers for congresses and seminars in Brazil and abroad. Services provided in Brazil, Chile, Angola, Kenya and Ethiopia. Member of ABNT/COBEI, IEC, Cigre and IEEE standards committees.

He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from UFU and a master's degree in Electronic Engineering from ITA. He founded Mi Omega in October 1993 and has been at the forefront of the company's technical solutions ever since. He has been a member of the ABNT committee responsible for revising standard NBR 5410 - Low-voltage electrical installations since 1993, coordinator of the ABNT committee responsible for revising standard NBR 14039 - Medium-voltage electrical installations since 2003, member of the NBR 16384 - Safety in Electricity committee in 2020 and member of the NBR 16690 - Electrical Installations of Photovoltaic Arrangements committee since its inception. As well as heading up Mi Omega, he currently teaches courses at the Mi Omega Institute and has over 40 years' experience in the electrical sector.

Rafael Alipio holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and is currently a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG), where he also coordinates the Electromagnetic Transients Laboratory (LabTEM). Between 2022 and 2024, he joined the Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in Lausanne, Switzerland, working on projects aimed at protecting electrical systems against lightning strikes, with an emphasis on wind turbines. His main areas of expertise include electromagnetic transients, electrical grounding, lightning protection and protection of wind farms and photovoltaic farms against electromagnetic disturbances. He has extensive experience in the performance of transmission lines and carries out research and technical consultancy in this area.

Electronic Engineer, worked at Ericsson Telecomunicações, Emerson Network Power and Embraer. He specialized in the area of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), working on product development, analysis and solutions to problems in the field caused by electromagnetic interference, atmospheric discharges, grounding, distribution and power quality. He currently carries out research into atmospheric discharges at INPE and provides freelance consultancy services.

Electrical Engineer from PUC/RGS in 1968 Occupational Safety Engineer from USP 2013-2015 Master's Degree in Technical Education from Oklahoma State University-USA 1973-1974 Participant in ABNT Study Commissions on Grounding and Protection Against Atmospheric Discharges Professor at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering-FEI 1975-1977 Professor at the Federal Technical School of São Paulo 1972-1992 Specialist Engineer at Eletropaulo 1968-1996 Technical Director of Galeno Engenharia Consultoria, Projetos e Treinamento Ltda. from 2000 to the present day

Wagner Costa is an electrical engineer with a postgraduate degree in production engineering from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and a master's degree and PhD student in electrical engineering from the University of Campinas (Unicamp). He is a member of ABNT's Electrical Earthing and Electromagnetic Interference Committee and of Cigré. He has experience in electrical grounding, electromagnetic transients in grounding systems, insulation coordination, impulsive grounding, kilometer grounding systems, electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic field calculations and lightning protection.