Solar
Utilities
Utility Interconnection
Electrical Transmission
Utility-Scale
Navigating Transmission Interconnection Queues
About this course
As renewable energy development accelerates across the United States, understanding transmission interconnection queues has become critical to the success of many utility-scale solar projects. This one-hour course provides energy professionals with practical knowledge of the current landscape, challenges, and strategies for navigating the interconnection process.
What You'll Learn
- Current state of generation and transmission in the US
- Structure and function of interconnection queues across different regions
- Key organizations involved in the interconnection process, including ISOs, RTOs, and transmission owners
- A breakdown of the interconnection study process
- Recent FERC orders and regulatory reforms affecting interconnection procedures
- Practical strategies to accelerate project interconnection timelines
Why This Course Matters
With over 1,100 gigawatts of solar capacity alone in interconnection queues and median wait times exceeding 50 months in some regions, understanding how to effectively navigate the interconnection process has never been more important. This course provides the knowledge needed to:
- Make informed decisions about project development locations and timing
- Understand regional differences in queue management and duration
- Anticipate and prepare for common interconnection challenges
- Implement strategies to potentially reduce interconnection timelines
Who Should Take This Course
- Renewable energy developers
- Utility professionals
- Project managers
- Anyone involved in utility-scale generation projects
Learning Objectives
- Understand the present landscape of generation and transmission in the US
- Know the factors driving transmission and interconnection queue bottlenecks
- Learn some of the things that can be done to get a new generation project connected faster
Course outline
3 modules
1 hour to complete
1:03 hours
of video lectures
Welcome • 3 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 3 assignments
Orientation Materials
This is a free course. We take pride in our free courses, but keep in mind that this is only a taste of what we do in a full HeatSpring course. You can get started immediately after you enroll.
- Totally optional: iPhone App for taking this class (50 seconds)
- Follow HeatSpring on LinkedIn
- Course Materials (.pdf)
Module 1 • 7 assignments
Navigating Transmission Interconnection Queues
Module 1 • 7 assignments
Navigating Transmission Interconnection Queues
- Welcome and Overview (03:30 minutes)
- Present State of Generation and Transmission in the US (07:58 minutes)
- Transmission Systems (11:28 minutes)
- Interconnection Study Process and Queues (14:14 minutes)
- Queue Durations in the US (07:10 minutes)
- Impacts of Long Study Queues & Recent Reforms (07:03 minutes)
- Getting a Generation Project Connected Faster (11:11 minutes)
Conclusion • 2 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 2 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Continuing Education Units
Approved NABCEP CEU Hours
| NABCEP Credential | Advanced Hours for Exam | Recertification CEU Hours | NEC | JTA | RE Elective | Building or Fire Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Author
Tim Taylor
Founder, 60 Hertz Learning
Tim has spent over 35 years in electric generation, transmission, and distribution. He recognizes the urgency to act on climate change. His primary focus is collaborating with stakeholders to understand the complexities of generation and storage interconnections to the electric grid. This encompasses the technical considerations, interconnection procedures and...
Frequently asked questions
Full FAQHow does this course work?
This is a free course. Enroll today and get access to all of the materials instantly. Pre-order courses are available on launch date. This is a self-study, self-paced course and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
For free courses there is no guarantee for how long the course materials will be available.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, this is a free course so you can share this page with other people from your team.