Grid Connection Manager – Australia

Job Description

Opportunity to join a leading solar & BESS developer as Grid Connection Engineer, or Grid Connection Manager, based on experience. Location: Hybrid in Melbourne or Brisbane office.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the AEMO and NSP grid connection process for renewable energy projects.
• Preliminary analysis of transmission network data to assess connection locations and capacity for early-stage developments.
• Ensure Connection Applications comply with AEMO and NSP requirement.

Technical Liaison

• Collaborate with internal teams, including project managers and developers, to meet grid connection requirements.
• Offer grid connection support to other teams, helping them understand the requirements, costs, and timeframes associated with grid connection.
• Establish and maintain communications with external stakeholders such as Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), network service providers, OEM, regulatory bodies, and technical consultants throughout the grid connection process.
• Lead the GPS and CA meetings with company’s consultants.
• Take the lead in generator registration, conduct loss factor analysis, and assess the impacts of market rule changes.
• Provide technical guidance for design inputs concerning grid connection, substation, and collector network aspects of projects.
• Assist the operations team in managing plant changeovers and resolving technical non-conformances and other issues.

Regulatory Compliance

• Stay updated with the latest R0&R1 regulations and industry standards.
• Ensure all grid connection activities adhere to R0&R1 and other relevant regulations.

Project Support

• Provide technical support throughout the project lifecycle, from feasibility studies to commissioning.
• Address grid connection issues that may arise during project execution.
• Support the procurement processes involved in negotiating generator facility contracts.
• Contribute to the development of effective business processes, systems, standards, and templates for efficient project delivery.
• Play a role in fostering a highly motivated work culture that encourages innovation and maintains a reputation for delivering high-quality projects to the market.

Documentation

• Develop scope-of-work documents and participate in the review and selection of Generator Performance Standard (GPS) and Connection Application (CA) consultants.
• Contribute to the generator technology assessment and OEM selection process.
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation related to grid connection applications, analyses, and compliance.
• Ensure all documentation is up-to-date and complies with company and regulatory standards.

Qualifications & Skills Experience

• Recent few years of grid connection experience in renewables
• Experience in connecting projects to the NEM through the AEMO connections process.
• Experience in connection application, generator registration, and negotiation of generator performance standards.
• Experience in commissioning generating assets, including Hold Point testing.
• Prior grid connection engineering experience on the NEM (solar farm and battery energy storage systems (BESS) or hybrid plant registration will be highly valued).
• Generator and power systems modeling experience – solar farm and BESS modeling highly valued with PSSE and/or PSCAD and/or Power Factory.
• Experience using PSS/E and/or PSCAD and/or Power Factory simulation tools.
• Proven track record as a Grid Connection Engineer, specifically with R0&R1 regulations.

Technical Expertise

• Strong understanding of AEMO’s grid connection processes, renewable generator plant SLDs, generator operating and performance requirements.
• Good understanding of the processes that individual transmission and distribution NSPs use for grid connection.
• Good understanding of Project Management methodologies (PMBOK or Prince2).
• Strong understanding of the National Electricity Market and the National Electricity Rules.
• Solid understanding of the generator connection process in the National Electricity Market.
• Strong understanding of the regulatory framework imposed by the NER.
• Highly effective technical report writing skills with the ability to present findings clearly.
• Registration with Engineers Australia (or eligibility for registration).

Communication

• Highly effective communication skills to liaise with internal and external customers and sound negotiation and influencing skills.

Problem-Solving

• Ability to identify and efficiently resolve grid connection challenges.
• Ability to assess changes and identify opportunities within the NEM.
• Ability to prioritise effectively to arrive at the optimal solution.

Teamwork

• Demonstrable ability to work as a team member and actively promote office harmony.
• Self-motivation with a strong desire and ability to acquire both technical and business knowledge/skills.