Information about the role
The Owner’s Engineer serves as the technical representative of the asset owner, providing independent engineering oversight and validation throughout the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and performance verification of large-scale solar PV and battery energy storage projects. The role ensures that project designs are technically robust, bankable, and capable of delivering firm, dispatchable power, meeting contractual requirements for hourly baseload delivery with ≥95% availability. The Owner’s Engineer will validate technical studies, system design assumptions, plant performance modelling, and engineering deliverables prepared by EPC contractors and consultants to ensure long-term reliability, safety, and optimal asset performance. Projects typically range from 20 MW to 200 MW utility-scale solar PV integrated with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and grid interconnection infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities
Project Feasibility & Technical Study Validation
Review and validate all technical studies supporting project bankability and design development, including:
- Site Selection & Resource Studies: Solar resource assessment, satellite data validation, long-term irradiation datasets, and shading/horizon analysis.
- Topographical & Land Studies: Review detailed topographical surveys, validate plant layout optimization, and evaluate grading requirements and site constructability.
- Geotechnical Studies: Review soil investigations, pile pull tests, and geotechnical reports; validate foundation design assumptions and assess risks like settlement.
- Hydrological & Drainage Studies: Review flood risk modelling and evaluate site drainage design and stormwater management strategies.
- Grid Interconnection & Power System Studies: Review and validate load flow, short circuit, transient stability, harmonic, and protection coordination studies to ensure utility grid code compliance.
Plant Design & Performance Optimization
Review and validate engineering designs prepared by EPC contractors and consultants, covering:
- Solar PV Plant Design: Plant layout, DC architecture, string sizing, DC/AC ratio optimization, and tracker vs fixed tilt selection.
- Energy Yield Modelling: Validate production modelling in tools such as PVsyst, Helioscope, and HOMER, verifying loss assumptions, degradation models, and P50/P90 estimates.
- BESS Integration: Validate battery sizing for firm power delivery, review charge/discharge strategies, evaluate state-of-charge management, and review EMS/SCADA control logic.
Performance Guarantees & Contractual Validation
- Support the asset owner in validating EPC contractual guarantees (capacity, performance ratio, energy yield, availability).
- Ensure guarantees for BESS (cycle life, round-trip efficiency) are realistic, measurable, and enforceable.
Engineering Design Review
- Review detailed engineering designs including SLDs, substation design, protection schemes, and SCADA architecture.
- Ensure compliance with IEC standards, IEEE standards, and local regulatory requirements.
Construction & Commissioning Oversight
- Conduct site inspections to verify installation quality and compliance with approved designs.
- Witness Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) for solar inverters, battery modules, and energy management systems.
- Participate in Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), including grid energization and performance verification tests.
Operational Readiness
- Ensure the plant meets operational targets (95% availability) and firm hourly power delivery obligations.
- Validate CoD and O&M readiness, monitoring systems, and performance guarantees.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 10–15 years experience in renewable energy engineering, including solar PV and battery storage systems.
- Proven experience acting as Owner’s Engineer, Independent Engineer, or Lender’s Engineer on large infrastructure projects.
- Participation in at least three (3) utility-scale solar PV projects exceeding 30 MW each, with at least one exceeding 100 MW.
- Experience with PV + BESS hybrid systems is strongly preferred.
- Strong expertise in PVsyst, grid interconnection studies, and power system modelling (ETAP, PSSE, PSCAD).
- Experience in remote or logistically challenging environments; willingness to work on-site during construction phases.
Benefits and Compensation
- A competitive package including annual compensation, performance bonuses, and health insurance.
- Professional development opportunities and team building events.
- Opportunity to lead landmark solar hybrid projects transforming the energy landscape across Africa.
