Hong Zhang Durandal, Energy Storage, Texas
Hong Zhang Durandal, who has been in the industry for 7 years, is a Senior Manager at EDP Renewables.
Why is clean energy important to you? Clean energy transformed my life and gave me a new opportunity in life. I grew up in a Bolivian mining town and Eastern Kentucky where finite resources were the main economic drivers. Renewable energy provides a responsible way to generate clean energy for everyone while taking care of the current and future generations health and sustainability of our communities. In clean energy I found my passion and long life dream to continue driving the development of new clean energy technology and solutions.
What’s your proudest accomplishment in clean energy My proudest accomplishment in clean energy is that I was able to develop and execute 1.6GWs of wind and solar projects in 2 years ($30 Million initial investment secured). During that time, I created a new office and hired 22 new employees to set up the structure for new projects. I was able to lead my company to enter this market after 10 years that were not successful. I was able to get all stakeholders' support in all my renewable projects and the new branch office I created.
What did you do prior to working in clean energy? I worked in Berea College’s wood workshop building tables and cutting boards.
How did you first get introduced to clean energy? My very first internship was with Constellation in Chicago where I met the late Phil O’Connor who was a pioneer in deregulated markets in Illinois. There I learned the market fundamentals of wholesale power markets, Independent Power Producers and the US energy grid system.
What do you wish more people knew about the clean energy industry? As a business development and M&A, I have worked in many aspects of the industry from project management, transaction lead, new contract negotiations, and all business aspects of building giant wind turbines and solar farms. My job has taken me not only to more than 40 states in the US, but to many countries in Latin America and Europe. I have worked with landowners, native communities, consultants, governments, contractors making me a very well rounded professional. One thing that I wish people knew about my job is how rewarding it is to help people across the world by developing and executing renewable energy projects. I have grown from leading a few projects to leading many project portafolios across the US and Latin America, making a positive impact on people’s lives, providing jobs, and sustainable economic development. Every day is different and brings a new challenge.
What does your job mean to you and your family? My job means a lot to my family. With my job in clean energy I was able to put my brother through his bachelors and masters degrees. He helps me now with engineering problems. I have also been able to help my parents monetarily with their financial challenges back in Bolivia (due to political turmoil and dictatorship). My family is proud I am making a difference in the world and helping so many professionals get jobs in the clean energy industry.
How is clean energy helping your community / state? I currently live in Texas. Texas has experienced a rapid growth in wind and solar energy. Clean energy is creating many new jobs in Texas both at the headquarters and at each project site with a variety and diverse needs of professionals. Clean energy is building strong power generation in West Texas and the ERCOT area. It is also setting the foundations to put Texas as the clean energy capital of the world, providing a transition from oil and gas.
Why should congress invest in clean energy jobs? Renewable energy is the way of the future and it has arrived. The US should continue to invest in renewable energy and support new interconnection upgrades because it is more efficient and provides abundant energy for future innovation, research, and development for the country’s future. Clean energy will continue to evolve and such things as repowering wind turbines and solar panels will be critical. Energy storage will provide the foundation to make renewable energy the major energy generation source in the country. Innovation in clean energy requires investment to find ways to recycle batteries and find new and improved technologies.
