Electricity demand is in United Statesas is its price. One way to increase supply and reduce costs is to build new power plantsbut it can take years and cost a fortune. Talgat Kopzhanov is working on a faster, more affordable solution: the alternator replacement process.
Links to equipment renewable energy sources to networks of closed or underutilized power plants and coal-fired power plants. The process leverages existing interconnection rights and infrastructure to generate electricity, eliminating the years-long approval process for new U.S. energy projects.
Talgat Kopzhanov
Employer
Middle River Power, in Chicago
Job title
Asset Manager
Member level
Senior member
Alma mater
Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and Indiana University in Bloomington.
Kopzhanov, a senior member of IEEE, is the company's asset manager Middle River Powerbased in Chicago. A private equity-sponsored investment and asset management organization specializing in electricity production resources.
“Each power plant has its own interconnection rights,” he says, “but surprisingly, most of them don’t take full advantage of them.” Interconnection rights give a new energy source, such as solar power, permission to connect to the high voltage transmission system.
“We are building new renewable energy sources based on them,” says Kopzhanov. “It’s like locating a new power plant.”
He recently supervised the installation of two generator replacement projects, one for solar system in Minnesota and another for battery storage in California.
Fast track approach to reduce costs
Artificial intelligence data centers are increased demand and increased electricity bills globally. Although technology companies investors are ready to spend trillions US dollars to build new power plants, it can take up to seven years just to secure the interconnection rights needed to begin plant construction, Kopzhanov says. The lengthy process includes system planning, permitting requests, and regulatory approvals. Only about 5 percent of new projects are approved each year, in part because of problems with grid reliability, he said.
Interconnection technology takes about half the time, he said, delivering cleaner energy faster to the grid. By overcoming interconnection bottlenecks, such as large transmission line upgrades that delay renewable energy projects, the process speeds up project timelines and reduces costs.
Kopzhanov explains the technique in an on-demand training video. webinars, Unblocking redundant interconnection service. Location of renewable and thermal power plantsorganized IEEE Energy and Energy Society. The webinar is available to the public for a fee.
Kopzhanov has been involved in several recent generator replacement installations. In May Sherko Solar The project in Sherburne County, Minnesota, replaced a retired coal-fired power plant with approximately 720 megawatts of solar generators, making it the largest solar generating facility in the region. It is expected that the first 460 MW of capacity will be commissioned in the near future.
Another new project developed with Middle River is a battery system installed in California in April. Hanford Hybrid Energy CenterA natural gas means of reliability. Existing and additional interconnect capabilities were used to add storage. Excess renewable energy from batteries will be used during peak hours to reduce load on the station. greenhouse gas emissions according to Silicon Valley Clean Energy Article about the installation.
“These projects are uniquely positioned to be located next to existing power plants,” says Kopzhanov. “But at the same time, they are renewable and sustainable sources of energy, which also helps decarbonize the environment and meet government emissions reduction goals.”
Influenced by the electric power industry of Kazakhstan
Kopzhanov was born and raised in Taraz (Kazakhstan) surrounded by relatives who worked in the energy sector. It's no surprise that he made a career in this field.
According to him, until 1991, when the country was still a Soviet republic, most Kazakhs were required to help build the country's power transmission and transmission systems. His mother and father are chemical engineers, and his grandfather worked in the energy industry. They told him about how they designed transformers and overheads power lines. According to him, from a young age he knew that he also wanted to become an engineer.
Today this Central Asian country is a major producer of oil, gas and coal.
Kopzhanov left Kazakhstan in 2008 to obtain a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering V Purdue Universityin West Lafayette, Indiana.
After graduating in 2012, he was hired as an electrical engineer by Fluor Corporation. in Farnborough, England. He oversaw the development of the master plan for the electric power project. He also designed and engineered high voltage switchgear, substations and transformers.
“Every power plant has its own rights to interconnection, but surprisingly, most of them do not take full advantage of them.”
Joined in 2015 ExxonMobil in Houston, working as a project manager. During his six years there, he held senior positions. He was eventually promoted to asset advisor and became responsible for assessing the viability of investing in decarbonization And electrification projects by identifying their risks and opportunities.
He decided he wanted to learn more about the business aspects of running a company, so he left in 2021 to further his studies. MBA V Indiana University Kelley School of Businessin Bloomington. While studying for his MBA, he worked briefly as a consultant for lithium-ion a manufacturing firm offering advice on the viability of their proposed projects and investments.
“Engineers are not typically exposed to the business world,” he says, “but understanding the needs and adapting your future goals to them is extremely important. In my opinion, this is how you become great technical experts. I definitely recommend that engineers have some understanding of the business side.”
He joined Middle River shortly after graduating from Indiana with an MBA in 2023.
The Power of Membership
Kopzhanov was introduced to IEEE by a colleague from ExxonMobil after he asked a participant about the IEEE sign hanging on his desk. A colleague spoke about the activities he was involved in as well as the joining process. Kopzhanov became a member in 2019, left, and then returned in 2023.
“It was one of the best decisions I made,” he says.
He is a member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society and says his publications, webinars, conferences and networking events keep him abreast of new developments.
“Being able to keep up with what's going on in the industry, especially in the field you work in, has been very rewarding for me,” he says.
An active IEEE volunteer, he is the founding chairman of the Energy and Energy Society. Chicago branchwith about 400 members. He serves on the chapter's executive committee and helps organize conferences, update the website, and review research papers.
“It's the little things that make a big difference,” he says. “Volunteering is a key element of belonging to IEEE.”
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