The Energy Innovation Consultant collaborates closely with the Control Centre, Engineering and Key Accounts teams and drives implementation of the Energy Centre's vision of monitoring, forecasting and controlling of DERs, improving visibility of resources for safe grid operation and restoration, supporting dispatch services and financial transactions, system optimization, supporting grid modernization and developing Distribution System Operator (DSO) capabilities. This includes activities and initiatives involving battery storage, solar photo voltaic (PV), electric vehicles, interactive grid solutions, distributed energy resources (DER) and associated energy transactions. This role supports customers in developing project opportunities, including management of formal operating agreements and responding to inquiries/requests/escalations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Leads the development, implementation and execution of processes, tools, and systems related to the continuous operations of DERs (i.e., Distributed Generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems) and Non-Wire Alternatives (NWA e.g., Electric Vehicle Load Management and Demand Response programs).
- Prepare detailed forecasts of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and provide dispatch services for contracted resources such as generation, energy storage and Demand Response in order to fulfill contractual obligations and achieve business objectives (i.e., financial and grid reliability).
- Ensures continuous monitoring of contracted resources is active and alarms are properly actioned.
- Maintains relationships with customers and stakeholders, responds to escalations, requests, inquiries and monitors project progress throughout execution to support excellence in customer service
- Works in coordination with the Control Centre and Grid Operations Engineering to confirm safe, reliable grid operation during normal and emergency conditions, while maximizing benefits from DERs/NWAs to the grid.
- Collaborates with field supervisors, crews, customers and vendors on technical and operational issues to diagnose faults/alarms, root cause failures, and implement corrective/preventative actions.
- Monitors Energy Centre progress and uses systems, processes and tools to develop, track and report metrics.
- Recommend solutions and technologies such as scheduling/dispatch tools, systems/grid automation, grid optimization, coordination processes/protocols, and capacity/energy markets solutions, that enhance safety, reliability, efficiency, and customer service performance.
- Researches and benchmarks best practices on DER and NWA integration/operations, as well as DSO models/functions in order to improve tools, standards, processes and systems.
- Participate in projects related to electricity market design and development initiatives to optimize operation of contracted resources.
REQUIREMENTS:
- A 3-year Diploma or a University degree in Engineering (Electrical Preferred), Energy Systems Engineering or related discipline
- Minimum Five (5) years experience working within an electrical utility, technical consulting or related organization within the energy industry
- Experience with utility engineering/operations, Distributed Energy Resources and/or energy trading is preferred
- Class G license preferred
- Knowledge of electricity distribution system design and operation
- Engineering competencies in managing a diverse portfolio of energy assets or Distributed Energy Resources (DER) including monitoring, forecasting and dispatching in a real-time environment within a distribution system
- Local knowledge in Energy Economics, Electricity/Gas Markets and advanced skills in handling commodity contracts, ancillary services and energy transactions to optimize DERs within a distribution system is an asset
- Excellent understanding of technologies and trends related to grid operations and/or electricity markets
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of utility business, electrical power distribution challenges and how that intersects with customer needs
- Excellent analytical and business solution development skills, including the proven ability to function effectively in a dynamic environment
- Customer service excellence and key account management skills
- Strong interpersonal, verbal/written communications skills
- Fully proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications including advanced working knowledge in MS Excel, MS Project, MS PowerPoint and MS Word
- Knowledge of Microsoft programming languages (such as VBA or SQL) to support data analytics is an asset
- Financial and strategic thinking acumen
Toronto Hydro Corporation
14 Carlton Street
Toronto
Ontario Canada
www.torontohydro.com/