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- Samsung C&T Trading & Investment (T&I) Group’s Development 1 Group of the Renewable Energy Team received the Outstanding Performance Department Grand Prize earlier this year after the sale of a solar development project in California generated a substantial pre-tax profit
- Through quick decision-making, strong partnerships, and close coordination between Seoul and the U.S. field team, the Group created a new opportunity for future growth
It can take five to ten years for a solar power plant to begin operation in California. From securing land and obtaining permits to connecting to the power grid, each stage involves variables that can affect a project’s timeline, cost, and business value.
Samsung C&T T&I Group’s Development 1 Group of the Renewable Energy Team manages this process across California, covering site acquisition, permitting, grid connection rights, project value enhancement, and monetization. Under Samsung C&T’s broader strategy of transitioning into an Independent Power Producer, or IPP, the Group has continued to identify high-quality projects that can move from development into either holding an equity stake to continue the business or monetizing it at the right time.
Development 1 Group applies this same flexible judgment to every project, and that principle led to this year’s Outstanding Performance Department Grand Prize.
Nam described the achievement as the result of principled judgment. “Deciding the best approach for each project is a core principle for our team,” Nam said.
Decide Fast, See Far
The project is a large-scale solar-plus-storage development located in California.
Development 1 Group decided to monetize the project through a sale. Because the team had steadily built relationships with a range of potential buyers, it was able to move through negotiations quickly and smoothly.
Tai Seok Kim explained that this ongoing relationship-building made the Group’s quick response possible. “Staying in touch with potential buyers and understanding what they needed made a real difference,” he said.
The project was also an attractive option for a buyer that already held a nearby project, since combining the two could create economies of scale.
According to HyungHoon Lim, careful coordination with the Seoul office and Legal team throughout the negotiation helped both sides reach terms that worked well for everyone.
The sale also helped put favorable conditions in place for a neighboring project. Development 1 Group built related terms into the sale agreement, securing both the neighboring project’s future prospects and the next development opportunity.
Frankie Jie Eun Chung said it was meaningful to hand over one project while also putting in place the groundwork for the next opportunity. “Handing over one project while also securing the right to prepare for the next one was what mattered most,” she said.
One Team, Even Across Time Zones
Solar development in the U.S. requires the Seoul office and the local U.S. team to move in the same direction. With distance and time zones involved, the work depends on clear ownership, fast communication, and shared context.
Development 1 Group holds regular meetings to review key projects and organizes additional discussions whenever needed. The local team reviews market conditions, permitting, utilities, and stakeholder communication, while the Seoul office adds perspective on business feasibility, risk, and investment.
This collaboration was clear during a recent Power Purchase Agreement, or PPA, bid in Arizona. Right after the bid was submitted, the team faced a request for changed terms and had just three days to review and resubmit — and moved fast to make it happen.
The Seoul and U.S. teams immediately connected by video call, divided responsibilities, and submitted the revised pricing on time. Ethan Yoonsuh Park noted that these moments show the Group’s strength. “When unexpected issues come up under tight deadlines, our team comes together to solve problems that can seem almost impossible,” he said.
The Group describes this way of working as being “always active.” With expatriates and long-term business travelers across different locations, one side can continue the work when the other is off for the day or on holiday. This has allowed Development 1 Group to manage projects across most of the U.S. and Canada, while also covering wind projects.
A Culture That Celebrates Every Small Win
Behind the Group’s collaboration is a culture of ownership. Nam has emphasized proactive communication, encouraging members to look beyond assigned tasks, identify issues early, and share them openly. “In solar development, there are too many variables to focus only on the task in front of you,” Nam said. “When each person approaches the project with an owner’s mindset, we can reduce risk and find opportunities earlier.”
That culture also shapes how the team supports one another. Nam shared that, as a newly appointed group head, he often learns from the preparations and experience of his colleagues. Seoyeon Park, a newer member of the team, said she has found pride in the way senior colleagues share their expertise and support her growth. Development 1 Group is now preparing for its next stage, with additional large-scale California projects in the grid connection and permitting stages. Chung and other team members are also continuing rotational business trips to California to identify new project opportunities by the end of this year, as the Group continues building new opportunities through practical decisions, close coordination, and shared ownership.
