Joachim Seel

About Joachim Seel

I am a German-American energy economist specializing in the valuation and integration of renewable and storage assets in wholesale power markets. My work focuses on the economics of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage, transmission interconnection costs, and the evolution of electricity markets under high shares of variable generation.I build unique large-scale empirical datasets to uncover new insights on grid integration costs, generator/storage asset value, and market design outcomes. I apply this evidence to inform regulatory decision-making and structural policy reforms—most recently contributing for example to industry understanding and implementation strategies for FERC Order 2023 and interconnection queue reform in the United States.I have two decades of experience working across the U.S. and Europe and have advised governments, system operators, utilities, and private investors on renewable integration strategies and market policy. I have delivered nearly 150 invited presentations to industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and international energy forums. I have published over 75 papers, ranging from high impact journals (Nature, Joule.), national laboratory technical papers, to policy briefs. Expertise:Energy economics • Electricity markets • Asset valuation • Transmission interconnection • Utility-scale solar & storage • Market design • Resource adequacy • Power system integration • Regulatory policy analysisStrengths:Objective analysis grounded in empirical data • Complex system problem solving • Policy impact • Reproducible research • Communicating technical concepts to diverse audiencesTechnical skills:Python (pandas, seaborn, geopandas, scikit-learn.) • Electricity market modeling • Microsoft OfficeLanguages:German (native) • English (fluent) • Spanish (fluent) • Mandarin (beginner)Work authorization: United States & European Union

Experience

1. Energy Policy Researcher Iii

   Berkeley Lab

   Mar 2023 — Present · Berkeley, CA, US

   Published over 75 technical reports and journal articles. See: https://emp.lbl.gov/people/joachim-seelLeading national report series on price, technology, performance, and value trends of utility-scale solar and storage applications in the United States based on unique empirical datasets (e.g. 92% project cost coverage). The 2025 Update highlights slightly increasing Capex 1.61$/Wac ($1.22/Wdc), post-tax credit LCOE increases to $41/MWh, and increasing utility PPAs ($20-30/MWh in CAISO and the non-ISO West and between $40-$80/MWh elsewhere). Solar\'s average energy and market value fell to $32/MWh, with generation costs exceeding value in 21/30 BAs. Battery cost premiums grow with larger average sizes ($1/Wac-pv or $25/MWh with credits). Solar in the nation\'s interconnection queues declined by 12% in 20•••56 GWac). https://utilityscalesolar.lbl.govLeading research on wholesale market valuation of solar+storage hybrids based on empirical project-level dispatch profiles from 9 US Balancing Authorities.Leading research on generator interconnection costs to the wholesale power systems showing that average costs have grown as the number of interconnection requests have escalated, driven primarily by broader network upgrade costs. Interconnection costs for wind, storage, and solar are larger than for natural gas. https://emp.lbl.gov/interconnection_costsLeading Capex and LCOE analyses for the national wind market report. https://emp.lbl.gov/wind-technologies-market-report/Co-led investigation on wholesale price impact of increased renewable energy penetrations in the US and subsequent changes in optimal portfolio selection of a variety of demand and supply side resources, including energy efficiency, new opportunities for large energy-consumers (hydrogen production, desalination, district energy systems), and retail rate design.

Education

• Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina 'Santa María de los Buenos Aires'​

  Semester Abroad

  2008 — 2009

• Jacobs University Bremen

  Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and History

  2006 — 2009

• University of California, Berkeley

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  2013 — 2017

• University of California, Berkeley

  Master in Energy and Resources

  2010 — 2012

• University of California, Berkeley

  Master of Public Policy

  2009 — 2012

Skills

• Analysis
• Solar Thermal
• Market Research
• Photovoltaics
• Energy Economics
• Spss
• Energy
• Public Policy
• Renewable Energy
• Policy Analysis
• Public Speaking
• Government Relations
• Wind
• Alternative Energy
• Stata
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Research
• Energy Policy
• Energy Efficiency
• Excel
• Economics
• Spanish
• Biomass
• Sustainable Development
• Qualitative Research
• Data Analysis
• Public Relations
• Cleantech
• English
• Python
• Solar
• Writing
• Climate Change
• Language Skills
• Matlab
• Solar Energy
• Powerpoint
• Statistics
• Microsoft Office
• German