Position: Transmission Planning & Interconnection Engineer

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Position Summary

The position is responsible for providing interconnection strategy of all utility scale solar and storage projects, performing analysis on the transmission system to identify capacity for potential project, and leading the company through the necessary transmission & interconnection processes of utilities and ISO’s.

Essential Job Functions

• Identify MW generation injection capability at point of interconnection subject to reliability constraints in various ISO’s and vertically integrated regions where the company is active (CAISO, ERCOT, MISO, PJM, SPP, ISO-NE, NYISO, Southeast, WECC)

• Evaluate transmission & interconnection tariffs, costs, timelines, queue, and processes for a variety of markets, provide overall interconnection planning strategy to the cross-functional development team, and identify optimal interconnection locations in target markets based on multiple cross-functional siting criteria

• Complete interconnection applications and supporting documentation for utility scale solar projects

• Lead communication and build relationships with utilities/ISO's and track interconnection progress to ensure projects are complete in a timely and cost-effective manner

• Manage and/or perform power flow, deliverability, curtailment and LMP studies in collaboration with external engineers and/or consultants

• Track changes to interconnection tariffs and key transmission upgrades in target markets

• Effectively analyze and creatively resolve bulk power system issues with the goal of reducing or eliminating the interconnection costs for active solar projects

• Successfully present findings to other system planning personnel with the intent of changing or reducing the amount of system upgrades required in order to improve project cost and schedule

• Remain abreast of renewable energy opportunities in the United States and the national industry trends impacting the future of solar and renewable development opportunities and their competitiveness as they relate to customers

• Carry out other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Familiarity with NERC/NPCC/ISO transmission planning practices. Must have the ability to communicate with system planning personnel to determine the exact procedures used to perform interconnection studies, feasibility studies and system impact studies within CAISO, ERCOT, MISO, PJM, ISO-NE, NYISO, SOCO etc.

• Experienced to prepare utility scale solar project preliminary design and interconnection application for submission to the utility for interconnection study

• Individual must be experienced in Siemens PSS/E and GE PSLF steady state, short circuit, and dynamics software modules with a high level of experience. No training will be provided; this job requires being able to understand what is driving thermal/voltage constraints and/or transient stability issues and propose the most cost effective solution by experimenting with bulk power system topology changes

• Must be fully trained in transient stability, harmonic analysis, short circuit, load flow and voltage analysis

• Willingness and ability to travel, up to 15~20% of the annual working hour

• Self-motivated and able to work effectively individually as well as with a team

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis on Electric Power Systems

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in interconnection and project development or transmission planning at a utility, ISO/RTO, or project developer, working directly to study and manage utility scale renewable energy generation projects interconnection to transmission system

License: Professional Engineer