Renewable energy projects, such as solar power plants, involve complex technical, regulatory, and logistical challenges. Each project development phase carries risks that may affect quality, cost, and schedule. To safeguard the owner’s investment and ensure alignment with evolving industry standards, many developers engage in Owner’s Engineering (OE) services.
These services provide independent, expert oversight that strengthens project delivery across all technical and construction stages in renewable energy engineering.
Owner’s Engineering in Renewable Energy Projects
Owner’s Engineering is a professional service that represents the project owner’s interests throughout the lifecycle of a renewable energy project. Unlike Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors, Owner’s Engineers act as the technical authority for the owner. They verify that engineering designs, procurement strategies, and construction activities meet project objectives, regulatory obligations, and contractual requirements.
The Owner’s Engineer also helps manage complexity by conducting independent design reviews, validating technical specifications, and monitoring contractor performance. This technical support is particularly important in projects involving multiple systems and vendors, such as grid-connected solar farms with integrated substation and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.
How Owner’s Engineering Enhances Technical and Delivery Assurance
Owner’s Engineering enhances technical and delivery assurance by providing independent oversight, ensuring compliance, and aligning project execution with design intent.
Strengthen Construction Project Management
Owner’s engineering enhances construction project management by aligning technical and logistical activities with the owner’s strategic goals. While the construction manager typically oversees schedules, resources, and site logistics, the Owner’s Engineer ensures that technical execution follows approved designs and specifications.
Owner’s Engineers perform the following functions during construction:
- Monitor project progress against key milestones and critical paths
- Evaluate contractor deliverables to ensure adherence to engineering standards
- Review variation orders and assess technical and financial impacts
- Facilitate the resolution of construction issues through engineering judgment
- Maintain alignment between contractual obligations and field execution
For example, in a utility-scale solar farm, the engineering team verifies tracker installation geometry and assesses the string combiner and DC cable layout. They also oversee inverter commissioning to confirm electrical performance and regulatory compliance.
When site-specific challenges occur, such as uneven terrain affecting racking stability or delayed transformer delivery, the Owner’s Engineer identifies the issue and proposes practical solutions. They then coordinate corrective actions to keep the construction timeline on track.
Technical Advisory and Interface Management
Owner’s Engineering provides technical advisory and interface management in complex renewable energy projects. These projects involve interconnected systems like PV arrays, inverters, and battery storage, requiring precise coordination across engineering disciplines.
The Owner’s Engineering team manages interfaces across mechanical, electrical, SCADA, protection, and civil systems. They also review and validate key project documentation, including single-line diagrams, solar electrical plans, power system studies, trenching layouts, and control logic. This ensures system compatibility, safety, and grid and regulatory standards’ compliance.
During testing, OE personnel oversee Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) and Site Acceptance Tests (SATs) to confirm performance against design specifications. In a solar power plant with integrated battery storage, for example, they verify that communication between the energy management system and the inverter meets operational and grid-code requirements.
Site Inspections and Regulatory Compliance
Site inspections confirm that contractors carry out installations and construction works following approved designs, industry regulations, and national standards. OE personnel inspect key construction milestones, such as foundation installation, PV module mounting, cable trenching, and switchboard assembly. Tasks may include verifying module orientation and grounding, inspecting cable trench depth and separation, and reviewing battery enclosure ventilation.
The OE team also ensures compliance with standards such as AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 5139, along with network operator requirements. When issues arise, such as incorrect cable derating in a rooftop solar system, the Owner’s Engineer (OE) documents the non-conformance and requires the Contractor to propose corrective action. The OE then verifies the proposed solution and may recommend an alternative if the Contractor’s action is ineffective.
This proactive approach supports system safety, performance, and long-term asset reliability across renewable energy engineering project delivery stages.
Technical Assurance and Risk Reduction
Owner’s Engineering provides an additional layer of quality control that improves project outcomes. By offering unbiased technical validation, OE services help reduce risk exposure in performance, reliability, and compliance. That said, project owners benefit from:
- Early identification of design and construction issues
- Reduced likelihood of rework and commissioning delays
- Improved communication between stakeholders
- Better documentation and traceability across the project lifecycle
- Independent validation for lenders, investors, or auditors
These benefits are particularly important for projects that involve large capital investment, multiple contractors, or utility interconnection. For solar farms and battery energy storage systems (BESS), technical assurance ensures reliable operation and compliance with performance guarantees over the asset’s lifespan.
Safeguard Your Renewable Energy Projects with ElectraGlobe
Owner’s Engineering is valuable for developers, investors, and asset managers seeking certainty in renewable energy project delivery. The OE team protects the owner’s interests through technical due diligence, site inspections, and interface management. These services ensure the project meets both technical specifications and regulatory requirements.
Fortunately, ElectraGlobe provides specialised Owner’s Engineering services for solar PV and BESS projects across Australia. Our engineers bring multidisciplinary expertise, detailed regulatory knowledge, and extensive field experience to support renewable energy engineering. For more information, get in touch with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you want to learn more about renewable energy engineering, check out the details below!
What is an Owner’s Engineer?
An Owner’s Engineer is a technical advisor representing the project owner’s interests throughout a project. They oversee design, construction, and commissioning to ensure compliance, quality, and performance.
Can Owner’s Engineering services be tailored to project size and complexity?
Absolutely. OE services can be scaled to suit rooftop commercial systems, utility-scale solar farms, or integrated solar-BESS sites. The scope depends on project risk, complexity, and owner requirements.
What role does the Owner’s Engineer play in commissioning a solar or BESS project?
The OE witnesses key commissioning tests, including inverter performance, battery charging/discharging, protection relay settings, and grid compliance testing. They confirm that the plant performs as designed and meets all regulatory and contractual obligations.
