Summary

Experience

Senior Renewable Energy Engineer|SunPower Corporation

Denver, COAug 2021Present

• Managed the technical design and commissioning of over 15 utility-scale solar PV projects, totaling 300+ MW, increasing project efficiency by 12%.
• Implemented advanced energy modeling techniques, leading to a 7% improvement in predicted energy yield for new developments.
• Spearheaded the integration of 50 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) with existing solar farms, enhancing grid stability and revenue generation by 10%.
• Mentored junior engineers, improving team productivity by 25% and reducing design review cycles by 15%.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure projects adhered to NERC, FERC, and local utility interconnection requirements, achieving 100% compliance.

Energy Systems Engineer|EDF Renewables North America

San Diego, CAJun 2019Jul 2021

• Conducted feasibility studies and due diligence for 20+ potential renewable energy projects, identifying opportunities to optimize capital expenditure by 8%.
• Performed detailed energy production analyses using PVSyst and Windographer, supporting the development of 150 MW of new capacity.
• Designed and optimized electrical balance of plant (BOP) for solar and wind projects, reducing material costs by an average of 5% per project.
• Assisted in grid interconnection studies and participated in technical review meetings with utilities, streamlining project approvals by 20%.
• Developed custom Python scripts to automate data analysis for performance monitoring, saving approximately 10 hours per month in manual effort.

Projects

Integrated Solar & Storage Microgrid for Remote Community

Mar 2022Present

• Led the design and integration of a 2 MW solar array with a 4 MWh BESS to provide 24/7 reliable power for a remote community, reducing diesel consumption by 85%.
• Managed a $7.5 million budget and coordinated a multidisciplinary team to ensure compliance with stringent environmental and community impact assessments.
• Developed the control logic for seamless grid-tied and islanded mode transitions, ensuring 99.9% uptime during pilot operation.

Optimized PV Plant Layout for Desert Environment

Sep 2020Jun 2021

• Engineered an optimized layout for a 75 MW solar PV plant in a challenging desert environment, increasing annual energy production by 3% through advanced shading analysis.
• Reduced construction costs by 4% by identifying and implementing more efficient cable routing and trenching strategies.
• Utilized drone imagery and topographical data to create precise 3D models for comprehensive site assessment and design validation.

Grid Interconnection Study Tool Development

Oct 2019Apr 2020

• Developed an internal Python-based tool to automate preliminary grid interconnection studies for new projects, reducing initial assessment time by 40%.
• Integrated public utility data and internal project parameters to quickly evaluate potential interconnection points and associated costs.
• Provided valuable insights for project selection and risk mitigation at early development stages, improving decision-making efficiency.

Education

Colorado School of Mines|M.S. in Renewable Energy Engineering

Golden, COAug 2017May 2019

• Developed a novel optimization algorithm for hybrid solar-wind microgrids, reducing energy waste by 15% in simulations.
• Awarded Dean's List for four consecutive semesters with a cumulative GPA of 3.9/4.0.
• Thesis: "Economic Feasibility and Grid Integration of Advanced Battery Storage Systems in the Western US."

University of Colorado Boulder|B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Boulder, COAug 2013May 2017

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude, maintaining a 3.8/4.0 GPA.
• Led a senior design project to build a smart home energy management system, achieving 20% peak demand reduction in test environments.
• Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Student Chapter.

Publications

Mitigating Curtailment with Battery Energy Storage in High-Penetration Solar Grids

Nov 2019Aisha Patel, Dr. Elena Rodriguez

Techno-Economic Analysis of Hybrid Solar-Wind Microgrids for Rural Electrification

Jul 2018Aisha Patel, J. Chen, S. Kumar

Optimizing Inverter Sizing for Utility-Scale PV Plants to Enhance Performance and Reliability

Mar 2021Aisha Patel

Skills

Renewable Energy Technologies

Solar Photovoltaics (PV)Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)Grid InterconnectionWind EnergyMicrogridsSmart Grid Systems

Software & Tools

PVSystETAPAutoCAD ElectricalMATLAB/SimulinkPython (Pandas, NumPy)Microsoft Office Suite

Engineering & Analysis

Power System DesignEnergy Modeling & SimulationFeasibility StudiesDue DiligenceSCADA SystemsHarmonic Analysis

Project Management

Project PlanningRisk ManagementStakeholder CommunicationCross-functional Team LeadershipBudget ManagementContract Negotiation Support

Codes & Standards

NEC (National Electrical Code)IEEE StandardsNERC/FERC RegulationsUL StandardsISO Interconnection ProceduresLocal AHJ Requirements