Owner’s Engineer – Large-Scale Solar PV & BESS

Purpose

• 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 and satellite data validation
• Long-term irradiation datasets and uncertainty analysis
• Shading and horizon analysis
• Site screening and comparative site selection

Topographical & Land Studies

• Review detailed topographical surveys
• Validate plant layout optimization and earthworks assumptions
• Evaluate grading requirements and site constructability

Geotechnical Studies

• Review soil investigations, pile pull tests, and geotechnical reports
• Validate foundation design assumptions
• Assess risk of settlement, pile refusal, or soil instability

Hydrological & Drainage Studies

• Review flood risk modelling
• Evaluate site drainage design
• Validate stormwater management strategies

Grid Interconnection & Power System Studies

Review and validate:

• Grid interconnection studies
• Load flow studies
• Short circuit analysis
• Transient stability studies
• Harmonic studies
• Protection coordination studies
• Ensure compliance with utility grid codes and interconnection requirements.

Plant Design & Performance Optimization

Review and validate engineering designs prepared by EPC contractors and consultants. Key areas include:

Solar PV Plant Design

• Plant layout and DC architecture
• String sizing and DC/AC ratio optimization
• Tracker vs fixed tilt selection
• Cable routing and electrical balance of plant

Energy Yield Modelling

Validate production modelling performed in tools such as:

• PVsyst
• Helioscope
• HOMER
• Internal performance models

Verify:

• Loss assumptions
• Degradation models
• Curtailment assumptions
• Availability modelling
• P50 / P90 production estimates

BESS Integration & Firm Power Delivery

Review design and operation of Battery Energy Storage Systems integrated with solar plants. Key responsibilities:

• Validate battery sizing assumptions for firm power delivery
• Review charge/discharge strategies
• Evaluate state-of-charge management
• Review EMS and SCADA control logic
• Ensure system capability to deliver firm hourly baseload output
• Validate the ability of the integrated PV + BESS system to meet:
• Dispatch obligations
• 95% operational availability
• Contractual power delivery guarantees

Performance Guarantees & Contractual Validation

• Support the asset owner in validating EPC contractual guarantees, including:
• Plant capacity guarantees
• Performance ratio guarantees
• Energy yield guarantees
• System availability guarantees
• BESS performance guarantees (cycle life, round-trip efficiency)
• Ensure guarantees are realistic, measurable, and enforceable.

Engineering Design Review

Review detailed engineering designs prepared by EPC contractors, including:

• Electrical single line diagrams
• Substation and grid interconnection design
• Protection and control schemes
• SCADA and EMS architecture
• Plant layout drawings
• BESS container layout and safety systems
• Ensure compliance with:
• IEC standards
• IEEE standards
• Utility grid codes
• Local regulatory requirements

Construction Quality Oversight

• Conduct site inspections to verify installation quality and compliance with approved designs.
• Monitor EPC contractor QA/QC procedures and verify installation of key systems including:
• PV arrays and trackers
• Inverter stations
• Medium voltage networks
• Substations
• BESS containers and PCS systems

 FAT, SAT & Commissioning Oversight

• Review and approve commissioning and testing procedures.
• Witness testing and commissioning on site
• Witness Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) for critical equipment including:
• Solar inverters
• Power conversion systems
• Battery modules
• Energy management systems
• Participate in Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), including:
• Grid energization
• SCADA integration
• Performance verification tests
• BESS dispatch testing

 Operational Readiness & Performance Verification

• Ensure the plant is capable of meeting operational targets including:
• 95% guaranteed availability
• Firm hourly power delivery obligations
• Compliance with grid dispatch requirements

Validate:

• CoD and O&M readiness
• Monitoring systems
• Performance Ratio and Performance Guarantees 

Key Performance Indicators

• Quality and accuracy of engineering design reviews
• Technical risk mitigation during design and construction
• Successful validation of technical studies
• Compliance with engineering standards and project specifications
• Successful completion of FAT, SAT, and commissioning
• Verified plant performance aligned with contractual guarantees
• Guaranteed Performance Ratios 
• Operational reliability and availability ≥95%

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience acting as Owner’s Engineer, Independent Engineer, Lender’s Engineer, or Technical Advisor on large infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of grid interconnection and power system integration.
• Professional engineering registration preferred.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years experience in renewable energy engineering, including solar PV and battery storage systems.
• Demonstrated experience in hybrid utility-scale solar PV and battery energy storage systems. Experience acting as: Owner’s Engineer; Independent Engineer; or Lender’s Engineer
• Candidates must demonstrate:
• Participation in at least three (3) utility-scale solar PV projects exceeding 30 MW each
• At least one (1) project exceeding 100 MW solar PV
• Experience with PV + BESS hybrid systems is strongly preferred
• Strong experience in reviewing or performing: 
• Solar resource assessment; 
• PV yield modelling (PVsyst);
• Grid interconnection studies; 
• Power system modelling (ETAP, PSSE, PSCAD);
• Geotechnical and topographical study interpretation; 
• BESS sizing and dispatch modelling
• Multiple power  generation sources integration via EMS including solar PV, diesel generators, and BESS
• Direct involvement in engineering design review, construction supervision, FAT/SAT verification, commissioning, and technical acceptance for utility-scale projects
• Experience in cross-border or emerging market projects.
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects in remote or logistically challenging environments, with willingness and ability to work on-site during construction, testing, and commissioning phases.

Key Competencies

• Technical Expertise: Utility-scale solar PV, BESS integration, power system design, grid interconnection.
• Engineering Governance: Design validation, engineering compliance, and technical risk management.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to assess engineering assumptions and validate performance models.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to interface with EPC contractors, consultants, lenders, and utilities.
• Attention to Detail: Commitment to engineering accuracy, reliability, and safety.

Benefits and Compensation:

• A competitive package including annual compensation, performance bonuses, health insurance, professional development and team building events. And you'll be working with a dynamic team of people passionate about electrifying East  and West Africa!

Why Join Us

• Lead landmark solar hybrid projects transforming Nigeria’s and West Africa’s energy landscape.
• Be part of a fast-growing regional team with projects across Africa.
• Take ownership of complex, high-impact projects from concept to operation.