Samer Abou El Joud, P.E., is ZGlobal’s Senior Manager of Engineering & Markets, specializing in interconnection studies, transmission analysis, power flow modeling, and local capacity assessments across the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), with a concentrated focus on California.
Samer supports a wide range of projects for ZGlobal and its clients, with expertise centered on the technical processes and procedures required to interconnect projects to the California grid. His experience includes conducting comprehensive power flow analyses, steady-state evaluations, and dynamic stability assessments for utility-scale generation and energy storage projects. Samer develops power flow and stability models to meet the technical requirements of CAISO, ERCOT, SPP, PJM, MISO, and various utility operators. He has also played a key role in local capacity studies evaluating system deficiencies and transmission constraints throughout multiple regions in California.
As part of his technical responsibilities, Samer develops detailed power load flow input files (.epc) representing proposed facilities and creates dynamic transient stability models (.dyd) using generator parameters and other dynamic data. These models are rigorously tested against WECC base cases to evaluate system performance during contingency events and ensure facilities maintain stability during faults and outage conditions near the point of interconnection (POI).
Samer also performs Generation Interconnection Queue analyses utilizing utility interconnection queue data to identify potential points of interconnection and available transmission capacity. These screening studies provide developers with an expedited, high-level assessment of project viability and serve as an important precursor to formal feasibility, system impact, and facilities studies.
In addition to engineering and interconnection support, Samer contributes to market and transmission planning efforts, including deterministic and stochastic Locational Marginal Price (LMP) forecasting, congestion analysis, and renewable energy project evaluations across WECC and ERCOT markets.
Samer holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Lebanese International University in Beirut and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Sacramento. He is a registered Professional Electrical Engineer in the State of California (E24608).
Recent Accomplishments:
- Performed long- and short-term deterministic and stochastic Locational Marginal Price (LMP) forecasts for more than 23 utility-scale and distributed renewable energy projects totaling approximately 2,560 MW across the Western Interconnection and ERCOT markets, supporting project finance and development strategies for clients.
- Supported WECC Path Rating studies and analyses that contributed to increasing Path 42 transfer capability from 750 MW to 1,115 MW.
- Supported the interconnection of more than 14,300 MW of projects across 11 western states within WECC, as well as ERCOT, PJM, and MISO.