Grid Connection Expert

Energias de Portugal SA; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global energy company is seeking a Grid Connection Expert to lead all grid connection activities for renewable energy projects across the UK. The successful candidate will manage the full project lifecycle while optimizing grid solutions and ensuring compliance with grid standards. Candidates should have a degree in Electrical Engineering and 6 to 10 years of experience in GB grid connections. The role offers a hybrid work model and emphasizes personal skills alongside technical expertise.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace

Flexible and healthy work environment

Opportunities for development

Qualifications

• 6-10 years of experience in grid connections for utility-scale renewable projects.
• Strong understanding of GB energy regulatory framework.
• Experience managing external grid consultants.

Responsibilities

• Lead the grid connection activities for large-scale renewable projects.
• Develop grid search strategies aligning with business objectives.
• Serve as primary contact for grid counterparties.

Skills

Grid connections

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Python programming

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

Job description

We are EDP, a global energy company present in around 29 markets with a particular emphasis on renewable energies. With more than 45 years of experience, we have been consolidating a relevant presence on the world energy scene based on the commitment to be all‑green by 2030, leading the energy transition. With more than 13,000 employees around the world, we are committed to using our energy and heart to drive a better tomorrow.

The Grid Connection Expert leads all grid connection activities for large‑scale solar, wind, and battery energy storage projects across the UK, serving as the primary technical and commercial interface with key counterparties including the National Electricity System Operator (NESO), Transmission Owners (TOs), and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). Covering the full project lifecycle from origination through development to delivery, the role secures robust, compliant connection solutions that optimise grid costs, connection timing, and long‑term operability while ensuring full adherence to the latest grid policies, Grid Code requirements, and technical standards.

What you will do:

• Lead the grid screening process for greenfield origination across the GB.
• Develop and continuously refine the grid search strategy to align with EDPR’s business development and growth objectives, leveraging publicly available datasets from NESO, DNOs, Ofgem, DESNZ and other regulatory sources.
• Collaborate closely with the GIS team to standardise, automate and integrate public datasets into interactive tools, capacity heatmaps and dashboards that accelerate and streamline the origination screening workflow.
• Own the end‑to‑end grid connection offer process from initial engagement through to acceptance and beyond, including chairing grid surgeries and pre‑application meetings, and leading the preparation, coordination and submission of budget estimates, formal applications and modification applications.
• Perform rigorous technical and commercial due diligence on all connection offers; robustly challenge constraints, assumptions and costs proposed by NGESO and DNOs; negotiate the most advantageous connection scope, programme, liabilities, securities and commercial terms; and manage post‑acceptance queue management milestones and DNO milestone payments.
• Serve as EDPR’s primary point of contact and relationship owner for all grid counterparties (NESO, DNOs, TOs and ENA), building and maintaining proactive, high‑trust relationships at all levels.
• Own Grid Code and Distribution Code compliance processes; provide technical guidance to Engineering, Construction and Procurement teams on applicable standards and interface requirements; and critically review and sign off third‑party reports on grid compliance simulations, test procedures and evidence packages (e.g. DRC and PGMD) for NGESO and DNO submissions.
• Coordinate grid‑related integration scopes across BESS optimisers, PPA off‑takers, BOP contractors and EPC suppliers to ensure seamless technical and commercial alignment at the grid interface.
• Lead the Connections Reform process for the existing portfolio and provide strategic guidance and continuously updated intelligence on the enduring Gate 2 / allocation‑window process for newly originated projects.
• Organise and lead regular grid update meetings, technical working groups and coordination calls for internal stakeholders (Origination & M&A, Development, Engineering and Construction, Regulatory).
• Represent EDPR in relevant industry forums, ENA working groups, NGESO stakeholder events and regulatory consultations as required.

Employment type: Full time

Work site: Hybrid Model

What are we looking for:

• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Renewable Energy Systems or a closely related discipline; Chartered Engineer status (CEng) is highly advantageous.
• 6 to 10 years of proven experience in GB grid connections for utility‑scale renewable energy or BESS projects (solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, or battery storage), gained either on the developer/IPP side or within NESO/DNO/TO organisations.
• Strong understanding of the critical path for developing, financing, and delivering renewable energy projects in the GB market.
• In‑depth knowledge of the GB energy regulatory framework and key energy transition policies; deep, current expertise in the GB Connections Reform (TMO4+) process, including Gate 2 transition rules, "first‑ready, first‑needed / first‑connected" criteria, queue management milestones and the enduring Gate 2 / allocation‑window regime.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Grid Code, Distribution Code, EREC G99, G100, P28/2, G5/5, the G81 series and related engineering recommendations.
• Experience in managing external grid consultants and critically reviewing engineering and compliance studies (load flow, dynamic stability, fault‑level, harmonics, rapid voltage change, flicker, curtailment assessments, etc.).
• Proficiency in working with public grid datasets (NESO TEC Register, DNO LTDS, capacity heatmaps, Embedded Capacity Register (ECR), TO/DNO RIIO business plans); Python programming skills for data manipulation and automation are highly advantageous.
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence and credibility to present to senior internal and external audiences.

More than academic knowledge and technical skills, we are looking for ambitious people who are enthusiastic about the future and who bring human skills aligned with our purpose.

Equal opportunities for all

Our vision is that each person combines their unique characteristics and experiences to fulfill our mission of creating new energy for the planet. We are an inclusive employer, ensuring all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. We welcome and value all people, and we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging for each person who is part of the EDP group.

As a top employer we:

• Empower our employees through a positive and innovative work environment that promotes collaboration and agile decision‑making;
• Respect and value each person, providing a flexible, healthy, and inclusive workplace with a range of attractive benefits;
• Provide a meaningful work experience and prepare our people for future challenges through different opportunities for development and internal mobility;

Our efforts have resulted in several distinctions over time, highlighting the EDP group's strong positioning and its dedication and commitment to attracting and retaining the best talent:

• Top employer certification by Top Employers Institute
• Part of the Bloomberg Gender‑Equality Index
• Top 100 Workplaces by Houston Chronicle

Discove r our tips to enhance your performance during the recruitment process and apply until 25/12/2025 if you think you are the right fit for this opportunity.