POI Interconnection Support: What to Know Early On
Planning a grid-tied project? Learn how POI interconnection engineering support works, what it covers, and why early prep can save major time.
What Is POI Interconnection Support?
If you're building anything that connects to the grid like utility scale solar farms, wind farms, or battery storage you'll hit the "point of interconnection" stage. Thats where your system plugs into the utility's grid.
POI interconnection engineering support helps make that process work smoothly. It includes technical studies, drawings, coordination, and meeting utility requirements. If your interconnection plan isnt dialed in, your whole project can stall.
Who Needs It?
Short answer? Pretty much anyone working in energy industries that connect assets to the bulk power system.
If you're acting as an owners engineer, you already know how many pieces need to line up. Interconnection is one of the big ones especially for large renewable projects. Utilities wont move forward until they see a complete, compliant design.
This also applies to folks in MEP engineering when your scope touches power systems. You may not be leading the interconnection, but your input still matters.
Whats Usually Included?
A solid POI interconnection engineering support package might include:
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One-line diagrams and site layouts
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Load flow, short-circuit, and protection studies
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Coordination with the utilitys standards
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Equipment specs that meet grid codes
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System modeling for compliance (think NERC Alert Level 3 IBR)
Its not just about making it work. Its about showing with real data and drawings that your system wont mess with grid stability.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
A few things trip people up here:
1. Waiting too long to start
If you wait until construction drawings are nearly done, its a mess. Changes at that point are expensive.
2. Assuming the utility will tell you everything
They wont. Utilities expect your team to know their requirements already or figure them out.
3. Not planning for inverter-specific issues
If your project uses inverters (like most utility scale wind farms and solar), you need to double-check for any NERC Alert Level 3 IBR triggers. These alerts flag reliability concerns tied to inverter-based resources.
Why This Phase Really Matters
Think of POI interconnection engineering support as your projects handshake with the grid. If its not solid or missing key info youll be sent back to the drawing board.
Even worse, you could pass initial review but hit delays later during testing or commissioning. Thats where most project timelines go sideways.
Getting this part right early helps avoid last-minute chaos. And lets be real utility timelines move slow enough without extra issues.
Wrapping Up
Whether youre leading the design as an owners engineer, or just trying to keep things moving on a utility scale battery storage build, interconnection cant be an afterthought.
Treat POI interconnection engineering support as a core part of the job not a paperwork task. Itll save time, reduce back-and-forth with the utility, and give your project a cleaner launch into the grid.
