Power Generation Project Planning and Delivery Course

Course Introduction

The Power Generation Project Planning and Delivery Course provides a comprehensive framework for developing, planning, executing and commissioning power generation investments across conventional and renewable energy technologies. It covers thermal power plants, combined-cycle gas turbine facilities, hydroelectric developments, solar photovoltaic installations, wind farms, geothermal facilities, battery energy storage systems and hybrid power projects. Participants examine how to translate electricity demand forecasts, generation capacity requirements and investment priorities into technically sound, financially viable and operationally sustainable projects. The programme connects project development, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover within an integrated delivery framework designed to improve investment confidence and execution performance.

Power generation projects involve complex technical interfaces, substantial capital commitments, regulatory approvals, environmental obligations and dependencies on fuel supply, grid infrastructure, land access and equipment availability. Project teams must coordinate plant design, generation technology selection, transmission connections, water requirements, civil works, electrical systems and control technologies while managing market uncertainty and changing energy policies. This course explores the principal challenges affecting power project delivery, including long-lead equipment procurement, construction productivity, grid connection readiness, fuel infrastructure, weather exposure and contractor coordination. Participants learn to assess these dependencies systematically and develop execution strategies that reflect the technical and commercial characteristics of each generation technology.

A central component of the programme is the preparation of investment-ready project plans supported by robust feasibility assessments, business cases and engineering development. Participants examine demand analysis, technology selection, site assessment, resource availability, preliminary design, environmental and social studies, project economics and financing considerations. The course addresses capital cost estimation, operating expenditure forecasts, generation output assumptions, plant availability, capacity factors, levelized cost of electricity and financial sensitivity analysis. It also considers how financing structures, power purchase agreements, tariffs, fuel prices, interest rates and construction timelines influence project bankability. These methods help project sponsors evaluate alternatives, test assumptions and establish a defensible basis for investment decisions.

Effective delivery requires close integration of scope, schedule, cost, procurement, risk, quality and stakeholder management throughout the project lifecycle. Participants learn how to structure work breakdowns, develop integrated schedules, establish cost baselines, manage long-lead equipment and coordinate engineering, construction and commissioning activities. The programme covers critical path analysis, earned value management, contractor performance, change control, claims prevention and forecast development. Particular attention is given to grid interconnection, substations, transmission interfaces, testing requirements and regulatory compliance, because delays in these areas can prevent an otherwise completed generating facility from entering commercial operation. Participants also explore how to align project controls with contract obligations, construction readiness and operational acceptance criteria.

The programme integrates sustainability, resilience and digital innovation into contemporary power project management. Participants examine emissions reduction, water stewardship, environmental permitting, biodiversity, community engagement, climate resilience and responsible end-of-life planning. Digital applications include building information modelling, digital twins, remote progress monitoring, integrated project information systems and analytics-supported performance forecasting. Artificial intelligence can assist with risk screening, schedule analysis and reporting, but its use must be supported by reliable data, human oversight, cybersecurity and clear accountability. The course also considers evolving requirements associated with renewable energy integration, battery storage, grid flexibility, hybrid generation systems and the growing need to coordinate generation assets with wider electricity system planning.

By the end of the programme, participants will be better equipped to develop executable project plans, evaluate investment options, coordinate multidisciplinary delivery teams and manage projects from concept through commercial operation. They will understand how to integrate project governance, commercial strategy, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operational readiness while maintaining clear control over cost, schedule, quality and risk. The course is designed to strengthen capital discipline, improve project predictability and support reliable electricity supply through well-managed generation investments. It emphasizes that successful delivery is measured not only by construction completion, but also by safe commissioning, grid compliance, reliable plant performance, environmental responsibility and the realization of intended economic and energy-system benefits.

Duration

10 days

Who Should Attend

• Power generation project directors and project managers responsible for utility-scale investments.

• Energy infrastructure programme managers overseeing multiple generation and associated grid projects.

• Power plant development managers coordinating feasibility, permitting, engineering and investment approvals.

• Electrical, mechanical, civil, structural and process engineers involved in generation project delivery.

• Renewable energy project developers working on solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and hybrid facilities.

• Thermal power project professionals responsible for gas, steam, combined-cycle and other conventional technologies.

• Project planning managers and scheduling engineers developing integrated delivery schedules.

• Project controls managers responsible for cost, schedule, risk and performance reporting.

• Cost engineers and estimators preparing capital budgets, contingency assessments and expenditure forecasts.

• Procurement and supply chain managers handling turbines, generators, transformers, boilers, modules and other long-lead equipment.

• Construction managers coordinating contractors, work packages, site logistics and installation activities.

• Grid connection and transmission specialists managing substations, interconnection studies and network interfaces.

• Contracts and commercial managers responsible for EPC, EPCM, equipment supply and construction agreements.

• Finance professionals and investment analysts evaluating project economics, financing and bankability.

• Environmental, social and governance specialists supporting permitting, impact assessment and sustainability compliance.

• Commissioning, testing and start-up managers responsible for plant readiness and performance verification.

• Operations and maintenance managers preparing for asset acceptance, reliability and lifecycle performance.

• Risk, quality, safety and assurance professionals supporting project governance and regulatory compliance.

• Digital engineering and data analytics specialists supporting modern project delivery and performance monitoring.

• Government officials, utilities, independent power producers and development finance professionals involved in power infrastructure investment.

Course Objectives

• Understand the full lifecycle of power generation projects, from opportunity identification and feasibility through engineering, construction, commissioning and commercial operation.

• Evaluate generation technology alternatives using demand forecasts, resource availability, site conditions, technical performance, environmental impacts and investment requirements.

• Develop investment-ready business cases incorporating capital expenditure, operating costs, generation forecasts, financing assumptions and lifecycle economic performance.

• Apply project governance, stage-gate approvals, stakeholder accountability and assurance arrangements appropriate to the complexity and risk of power generation investments.

• Establish clear project scope, work breakdown structures, responsibility matrices and interface management procedures across engineering and construction disciplines.

• Develop integrated schedules that coordinate design, procurement, manufacturing, construction, grid interconnection, commissioning and commercial operation milestones.

• Strengthen capital cost estimation, budget baselining, contingency management and financial forecasting to improve transparency and control over project expenditure.

• Apply project controls, progress measurement, earned value principles and variance analysis to identify emerging delivery problems and support timely corrective action.

• Manage procurement strategies, long-lead equipment, supplier performance, logistics and contractual interfaces to reduce schedule and supply chain exposure.

• Integrate technical risk, process and electrical safety, environmental compliance, quality assurance and climate resilience into project planning and execution.

• Use digital engineering, analytics and responsibly governed AI applications to improve project visibility, forecasting accuracy, information quality and management decisions.

• Improve commissioning, grid compliance, performance testing, asset handover and benefits realization to support safe, reliable and commercially successful power generation.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Power Generation Industry and Project Lifecycle Fundamentals

• Electricity demand drivers, energy market structures and strategic priorities shaping generation investments.

• Project lifecycle phases from opportunity identification and concept selection to commercial operation and asset management.

• Conventional, renewable and hybrid generation technologies and their principal project delivery characteristics.

• Project success criteria, investment objectives, operational performance targets and lifecycle value considerations.

Module 2: Project Development, Feasibility and Technology Selection

• Demand forecasting, generation capacity planning and assessment of alternative development scenarios.

• Technology selection based on resource availability, site constraints, efficiency, reliability and operating requirements.

• Feasibility studies, preliminary engineering, project definition and evaluation of development alternatives.

• Investment readiness reviews, decision gates, technical assumptions and validation of project development risks.

Module 3: Site Assessment, Permitting and Infrastructure Planning

• Site selection, land access, geotechnical investigations, topography and environmental baseline assessments.

• Fuel supply, water availability, transportation access and supporting infrastructure requirements for generation facilities.

• Environmental and social impact assessments, land-use approvals and stakeholder engagement requirements.

• Site development planning, enabling works, construction access and readiness for project mobilization.

Module 4: Power Project Economics and Investment Appraisal

• Capital expenditure estimates, operating cost forecasts and whole-life cost evaluation for generation assets.

• Electricity output modelling, capacity factors, plant availability and generation performance assumptions.

• Net present value, internal rate of return, payback analysis and levelized cost of electricity calculations.

• Sensitivity analysis for fuel prices, interest rates, exchange rates, construction delays and generation uncertainty.

Module 5: Project Governance, Business Cases and Financing

• Project sponsorship, governance structures, decision rights and investment approval responsibilities.

• Business case development, funding strategies, lender requirements and project bankability considerations.

• Power purchase agreements, tariff structures, revenue assumptions and commercial risk allocation.

• Stage-gate approvals, independent technical reviews, assurance processes and investment decision documentation.

Module 6: Engineering Management and Technical Integration

• Engineering execution plans, design deliverables and coordination across civil, mechanical and electrical disciplines.

• Plant configuration, turbine-generator systems, boilers, heat recovery, cooling and auxiliary systems as applicable.

• Electrical balance-of-plant design, protection systems, instrumentation and control system integration.

• Design reviews, constructability assessments, technical queries and management of engineering changes.

Module 7: Procurement, Contracting and Supply Chain Management

• Contracting strategies for EPC, EPCM, equipment supply, construction and specialist technical packages.

• Tender development, bid evaluation, contractor qualification and commercial risk allocation.

• Procurement planning for turbines, generators, transformers, solar modules, wind turbines and other critical equipment.

• Supplier expediting, factory acceptance testing, transport logistics and management of long-lead delivery risks.

Module 8: Integrated Project Scheduling and Resource Planning

• Integrated schedules connecting engineering, procurement, construction, interconnection and commissioning activities.

• Work breakdown structures, activity sequencing, schedule logic and critical path analysis.

• Resource loading, workforce planning, equipment utilization and construction productivity assumptions.

• Schedule risk analysis, milestone forecasting, recovery planning and evaluation of acceleration alternatives.

Module 9: Construction Management and Site Execution

• Site mobilization, construction sequencing, work packaging and coordination of multiple contractors.

• Civil works, foundations, structural installation, mechanical erection and electrical installation management.

• Site logistics, materials control, temporary facilities, quality inspections and workforce safety.

• Progress verification, productivity measurement, constraint removal and management of construction interfaces.

Module 10: Grid Connection and Electrical Infrastructure Integration

• Grid interconnection requirements, connection studies and coordination with transmission and distribution operators.

• Substation development, transformers, switchgear, protection systems and associated transmission infrastructure.

• Grid compliance, synchronization requirements, power quality and system stability considerations.

• Interconnection milestones, utility approvals, testing dependencies and mitigation of grid connection delays.

Module 11: Capital Cost Control and Project Financial Management

• Estimate development, budget baselines, cost breakdown structures and documentation of estimating assumptions.

• Actual costs, commitments, accruals, cash-flow forecasts and reconciliation of financial project information.

• Contingency governance, management reserves, escalation exposure and formal budget change authorization.

• Cost variance analysis, estimate-at-completion forecasting and development of evidence-based corrective actions.

Module 12: Project Controls, Risk and Performance Reporting

• Integrated project controls frameworks linking scope, cost, schedule, risk, quality and procurement information.

• Earned value management, physical progress measurement and interpretation of cost and schedule performance.

• Quantitative risk analysis, schedule uncertainty, sensitivity testing and mitigation tracking.

• Executive dashboards, trend registers, early-warning indicators and decision-focused management reporting.

Module 13: Contracts, Change Management and Commercial Assurance

• Formal change control procedures and evaluation of technical, financial and schedule impacts.

• Contract administration, payment certification, variations and management of contractor obligations.

• Delay analysis, claims assessment, extension-of-time considerations and dispute avoidance.

• Commercial forecasting, risk allocation, document control and audit-ready contractual records.

Module 14: Environmental, Social, Safety and Sustainability Management

• Environmental permitting, emissions management, water stewardship and biodiversity protection measures.

• Construction health and safety, electrical hazards, lifting operations and high-risk work controls.

• Community engagement, land access, grievance management and social performance monitoring.

• Climate resilience, lifecycle emissions, resource efficiency and sustainability requirements across generation technologies.

Module 15: Digital Project Delivery, Analytics and Emerging Technologies

• Common data environments, building information modelling and integrated engineering information management.

• Digital twins, remote site monitoring and data-enabled progress verification across project work packages.

• Predictive analytics and responsible AI applications for schedule forecasting, cost risk screening and reporting.

• Cybersecurity, data governance, model validation and human oversight of technology-assisted decisions.

Module 16: Commissioning, Commercial Operation and Benefits Realization

• System completion, pre-commissioning, functional testing and commissioning readiness reviews.

• Plant performance testing, reliability demonstration, grid synchronization and operational acceptance.

• Operator training, maintenance planning, asset documentation and transfer of responsibilities to operations teams.

• Contract closeout, lessons learned, final cost reconciliation and monitoring of long-term project benefits.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.