Officer, Hydrogen Accelerator
After completing studies from Northumbria University Newcastle Upon Tyne UK in 2011, he acquired significant experience working with several employers – Ericson, Vodafone and Huawei for many projects, including London Olympic Project. In 2015 he completed MSc in Energy, Water and Environmental Management from Abertay University Dundee, UK. The work at Ericson, Vodafone and Huawei helped him gain invaluable industrial and practical experience, especially in power and energy engineering, which helped further his MSc studies. In 2020, he completed a PhD degree in energy engineering. The project’s main aim was to simulate Smart Energy Systems for investigating 100% Renewable Energy and Transport Solutions for Sri Lanka. During his PhD, he has also completed six European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) PhD courses from Aalborg University in Aalborg, Denmark.
Before joining the industry, Wattala worked as a research and teaching assistant at Edinburgh Napier University and as visiting lecturer at the University of Applied Management Studies, Mannheim, Germany and German Business School, the University of Tunis, for an MBA in Energy Management. Expanding his academic network with research work in community energy designs, small scale energy system design and 100% renewable smart energy system design in many countries.
Wattala has wide ranging industrial experience. He actively designed and implemented new renewable energy projects carried out by the public sector and private sector to helping to contribute to Scotland’s Net Zero targets. Wattala has been involved in transport and industry decarbonisation projects in Scotland and has made a valuable contribution to the projects by proposing some innovative ideas based on some technical calculations to prepare feasibility reports and presentations for government approval.
Wattala is an active member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Energy Institute. Currently, he is preparing his application form for Charted Engineer membership with the Institute of Engineering and Technology.