Principal Interconnection Planning Engineer

Hanwha Renewables, headquartered in Irvine, California, a member of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm that is among the eight largest business enterprises in South Korea. Hanwha Renewables designs, builds and manages renewable energy solutions. The company brings a decade of global leadership in renewable energy to North America, combining best-of-world technology, processes, and partnerships to deliver utility-grade energy solutions customized for local energy markets. Hanwha Renewables offers the full spectrum of energy solutions – from power plant development, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. With proven capabilities across the renewable energy value chain, Hanwha Renewables minimizes uncertainty and risk, and helps customers achieve a higher return on their investment in renewable energy.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Lead and perform interconnection planning analysis and economic studies for utility scale solar PV plants and energy storage projects with a special focus on production cost simulations and utility grid capacity assessment. Principal IPE will be responsible for supervising and performing electrical analysis on the utility high voltage transmission system to identify capacity for potential (utility scale solar & storage) projects and handling necessary transmission & interconnection processes of utilities and ISO’s. Provide due diligence engineering review, statement, and technical feasibility. Coordinate and manage internal and third-party studies, consulting and independent transmission planning resources during the pre-acquisition leading technical diligence, development activities, and engineering. Principal IPE provides mentorship to junior transmission planning engineers in the team and provides day-to-day guidance for performing interconnection planning viability studies and economic analysis as needed. This role provides necessary technical training for performing loadflow injection studies using TARA and PSS/E software. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Routinely lead and perform powerflow studies (using PowerGem TARA and Siemens PSS/E software) and economic studies (using PROMOD) to assess electric interconnection viability of renewable projects and support Development and Commercial Teams for due diligence studies and efforts before commencing interconnection applications. Identify optimal interconnection locations in target markets based on multiple cross-functional siting criteria.
• Perform detailed technical reviews of interconnection study reports (Feasibility, System Impact, and Facilities) to validate assumptions, identify technical errors, inconsistencies, and optimization opportunities. Collaborate with utilities, ISOs, consultants, and internal stakeholders to resolve study issues, reduce network upgrade costs, shorten project schedules, and improve interconnection outcomes by developing technical questions, comments, and alternative mitigation strategies.
• Lead the negotiation of Generator Interconnection Agreement (GIA), amendments, Facility Construction Agreements (FCAs), and other interconnection-related agreements. Coordinate internal reviews with Legal, Engineering, Development, and Commercial teams, and negotiate directly with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and transmission providers to achieve timely execution while optimizing project cost, schedule, and commercial outcomes.
• Ensure all executed Interconnection Agreements (IAs) remain in good standing through Commercial Operation Date (COD) for assigned projects. Monitor compliance with IA milestones, proactively manage milestone obligations, identify potential risks, and drive resolution of issues that could result in a breach of the agreement or impact on the project schedule.
• Routinely lead and perform due diligence for M&A projects by reviewing interconnection documents from data room and briefing Development and Commercial team on key findings
• Support engineering team routinely as a seasoned engineer with technical task assignments for projects under engineering and design phase and attend project meetings (internal and external).
• Review and summarize Curtailment study results for management review and support Finance team on routine assignments with external consultants.
• Evaluate transmission and interconnection tariffs, costs, timelines, queue dynamics, and market processes across multiple markets. Develop interconnection strategies and provide technical guidance to Development and Commercial teams to support project origination, risk assessment, and investment decisions.
• Provide communication and build relationships with utilities/ISOs and track interconnection progress to ensure projects are complete in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Track changes to interconnection tariffs and key transmission upgrades in target markets in North America
• Create regular project interconnection status reports and monitor LGIA milestones.
• Work with Development and Commercial departments to analyze renewable energy projects.
• Contribute innovative ideas to enhance interconnection and quality in practices utilized by the Hanwha development department.
• Train junior level IPEs to perform load flow simulations and analyze electric transmission grid capacity for renewable developments and interconnection

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical engineering, Master’s, and/or MBA preferred. PE license is preferred but not required.
• Ten (10) years of transmission and interconnection planning experience on renewable projects and at least two years of solar photovoltaic and energy storage utility scale projects.
• Development or transmission planning at a utility, ISO/RTO, or project developer.
• Ability to use proficiently GE PSLF, Siemens PSS/E, PROMOD and AutoCAD software
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously at a dynamic pace, find creative solutions, and communicate with both a technical and non-technical audience.
• Experience communicating / working with utilities, consulting firms, ISO/RTOs, and regulators
• Candidate must possess experience in successfully executing projects from inception thru development and into engineering while providing strong technical direction/guidance in power engineering background (especially having interconnection Tariff background.)
• Some level of experience in performing due diligence for solar and energy storage assets are preferred.