Brian Rahman is ZGlobal’s Vice President of Power Engineering and Markets with over three decades of experience in areas of electrical engineering, management of market systems, operations, design/technology updates, and project coordination in a variety of utility/energy-related disciplines.
Brian brings a comprehensive understanding of utility and power system operations, both functional and financial, with experience in hydro generation and control area operation, financial analysis of transmission and generation, implementation of large projects, and renewable integration.
Additionally, Brian has served as an expert witness on multiple occasions presenting factual arguments in support of utility customers, project developers, as well as the CAISO. With skills centered on project and program management and having worked on projects including the $100 million CAISO nodal market as the Program Manager, Brian exhibited leadership in managing large and complex market design and implementation of processes, technology, and organizational change.
Brian and his team of engineers have performed many engineering analyses for transmission, distribution, and generating facilities with services ranging from transmission and distribution planning to specific studies including reactive power, short circuit, system impact, and facility studies. Brian has extensive experience providing technical testimonies at the Federal and State level, which provided a review of the various proposed utility transmission lines, and substations.
Brian directs the ZGlobal engineering team to provide technical service for Generator Interconnection Request(s) including engineering design and coordination with equipment manufacturer to gather the required technical data (i.e. manufacture data for steam turbine, governor, generator, excitation system, power system stabilizer, step-up transformers, and short circuit impedance data), selection of a point of interconnection, site maps, as well as the power flow and dynamic stability models. Additionally, Brian provides coordination and oversight with our internal clients, external Engineering Design Firm, or an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firm to support projects in their design and construction phases.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Washington State University and is a registered Professional Electrical Engineer, State of California – E14914.
Recent Accomplishments:
- On behalf of Aera Energy in Bakersfield, CA, Expert Witness testimony related to the viability of interconnecting a 2000 MW Solar PV Project. Detailed reliability and interconnection analysis and testimony by Rahman, B. Document Number: 1100088718
- On Behalf of Tesoro Refinery in Martinez, CA, Expert Witness testimony for the reliability of their 80 MW load. In the United States District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco Division). Detail reliability and interconnection analysis and testimony by Rahman, B. Docket Number: Case No. 14 CIV 00930 (JCS)
- On behalf of the California CPUC provided an independent assessment and proposed alternatives to the proposed Ocean Ranch Substation in the SDG&E area. The proposed project was eliminated in lieu of the identification of an environmentally superior option.
- Arc Flash Studies and System Resiliency Analysis and Technical Requirements. performed grid reliability and resiliency analysis for several Air Force Bases. Brian led a technical team and performed detailed modeling of the air base electric distribution and transmission system including all substations, flight lines, load centers, and points of supply to perform arc flash studies and system resiliency analyses. The analysis was performed on several critical armed force facilities in California, Nevada, and Maryland.
- Generator Interconnection Process, Project Specification, and Technical Requirements (
Brian has been at the forefront of the generation interconnection boom across the western United States ( NVE, CAISO, PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, IID, APS, PJM, PNM) and has assisted with hundreds of interconnection applications including preliminary technical specification of the generation/storage project and components, development of single-line drawings, site maps, complex modeling of project dynamic characteristics, and liaison with utility or transmission owner. His efforts in this area include due-diligence services including power flow analysis and system capacity assessments in the selection of points of interconnection, guidance throughout the interconnection study process, and interconnection agreement. Project technologies have included traditional gas generation, hydro generation, pump storage, wind, PV solar, energy storage, geothermal as well as emerging technologies. - Annual Review of Southern California Edison Transmission Capital Projects for the CUPC
Brian was the Principal Engineer and led the annual reviews requested by the CPUC of SCE transmission capital projects and provided power flow analysis and validation of proposed project needs. Project assessments were performed for projects exceeding $50 million and involved independent assessment of the projects and development/evaluation of possible alternatives. Efforts included coordination with CPUC and SCE, PG&E, and SDG&E to validate projects against prevailing design standards, variations in load/demand forecasts, and possible alternatives. These efforts and assessments found projects that were deferred or canceled based on the analysis leading to savings for utility ratepayers. - Deliverability Assessment – Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project Impacted Generation
Brian performed a detailed deliverability assessment for wind and solar generation projects, existing and proposed, in the Tehachapi wind area that was exposed to potential curtailment or deliverability limits due to the construction of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP). The construction of the TRTP spanned multiple years and multiple configurations before completion The analysis and results enabled our client to plan for and mitigate possible periods of production limitations and was used for financing purposes within the Tehachapi area. The analysis included both production cost simulations as well as power flow analysis so that both energy prices as well as the physical capacity of the system were incorporated into the overall analysis and resulting conclusions. - California Department of Water Resources
Brian served as Consulting Manager over the engineering team in the development of dynamic models (GE_PSLF) for Tunnel Boring Machines to allow SMUD and WAPA to perform System Impact Studies and dynamic simulations to assess possible impact on the bulk electric system. In this role, Brian provided CDWR management with guidance and support during the Study process with SMUD and WAPA, and evaluated study results and recommendations to enable CDWR to meet its objectives in the early phases of project work for the CA Water Fix Project.