You probably want your existing renewable projects to survive the new era of clean energy. If this is the case, you need to master everything about the project development process from the get-go. This includes the interconnection aspects. If you ask us, it is important to possess three key mindsets: frugality, strategy, and shrewdness.
Frugality
You need to have an interconnection study in the first iteration of the project development. After all, you would not want to spend a lot of the budget on a project with fatal flaws. We recommend consulting a power system specialist before anything else. Once you have passed the first screening, then it is time to contact a regulatory consultant.
By doing it this way, you reduce the risk of mistakes. Without a doubt, you would not want to start the interconnection application on the wrong voltage or on an inappropriate transmission circuit.
Strategy
You need to comply with the regulations and rules of a pre-set game when it comes to a public RFP. We know just how tempting it can be to install the biggest capacity possible on your land to maximize profit. Even so, you might be forced to take on a different strategy due to grid capacity. Likewise, network upgrade costs might compromise the feasibility of a project.
Instead, you should identify interconnection options and evaluate all the available capacities. Once you do this, it will be easier to compare projects in the portfolio and make the right call.
Shrewdness
You can mitigate risks and gain confidence with your project by contacting a power system specialist. Make sure that it is someone with experience in system planning. Even if you think that it is too early for this, it is the best time to do so. A real expert can compare the interconnection options quickly as they already know how to think exactly like the people from utility companies.
Conclusion
Interconnection is just as important as financing, resources, and licensing. Stick by these values and you will be prepared for anything that comes your way.
