Overview

In the interconnection process, what you don’t know upfront can cost millions later. This case study highlights how one utility-scale developer used Nira Prospecting and In-Queue tools to identify a high-risk site before submitting an interconnection request (IR) – ultimately avoiding $87 million in site washout without upgrades.

The Challenge

In 2023, a solar + storage developer was preparing to submit a 200 MW project to MISO. Their internal team had already short-listed several parcels and was relying on third-party FOTC screening tools to validate grid availability. At the same time, they also looked closely at load centers, available land, and FOTC results showing over 600 MW of available capacity. But their transmission planning engineer raised concerns: “This feels too good to be true. Let’s run it through Nira before committing deposits.”

The Nira Insight

Using Nira’s Prospecting Tool, the developer quickly visualized upgrade risk and real-time capacity at the target substation. The results flagged multiple constraints not detected in the FOTC scan. Next, they used the In-Queue Tool to simulate the project entering the queue and to forecast Phase I outcomes based on actual grid interconnection data.

The outcome:

• Nira flagged 35 active constraints

• The project had a 95% chance of $87 million in potential upgrade costs

• These constraints would not have been visible using traditional tools

The Decision

Instead of proceeding with a high-risk IR, the team used Nira to identify alternate substations nearby with lower cost exposure and no active constraints. They ran over 200 scenarios, strategically picking the one with the lowest risk. “Without Nira, we would have spent weeks – if not months – trying to figure out what was happening. Hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

• Director of Transmission, Utility-Scale Developer

Why It Worked

• ISO-Accurate Modeling Nira replicated the same NIST/EPRI methodology; MISO would later use – before any capital was committed.

• Rapid Scenario Testing The team ran multiple sizing scenarios and queue simulations in less than 48 hours.

• Portfolio Confidence Insights from this case led to a broader internal IR model across 9 projects in the pipeline.

Conclusion

This developer’s story is one of many. As queue competition grows and upgrade costs rise, early-stage decisions are more critical than ever. With Nira, solar + storage teams can screen smarter, commit more confidently, and avoid costly mistakes.