Solar and Wind Energy Project Delivery Management Course

Course Introduction

The Solar and Wind Energy Project Delivery Management Course provides a comprehensive, practical framework for developing, planning, executing and commissioning utility-scale solar photovoltaic, onshore wind and offshore wind projects. It addresses the full investment lifecycle, from resource assessment, site selection and feasibility studies through engineering, procurement, construction, grid connection, commissioning and commercial operation. Participants examine the technical, financial, commercial and organizational requirements of renewable energy project delivery, including land access, resource uncertainty, equipment selection, contractor coordination and operational readiness. The programme emphasizes integrated planning and disciplined project controls to help organizations deliver renewable energy assets safely, efficiently and in line with investment objectives.

Solar and wind developments have distinctive project delivery challenges arising from weather-dependent resources, geographical dispersion, specialized equipment, environmental constraints and evolving grid requirements. Solar projects depend on irradiance assessment, site conditions, module performance, inverter configuration and land utilization, while wind projects require detailed wind resource analysis, turbine selection, geotechnical investigations, foundation design and complex transport and lifting operations. Offshore wind introduces additional marine logistics, seabed conditions, vessel availability and weather-window constraints. This course explores how these technical differences influence project scope, cost estimates, schedule assumptions, procurement strategy, risk allocation and construction sequencing, enabling participants to tailor delivery approaches to each technology and location.

A core component of the programme is the development of bankable, investment-ready projects supported by robust feasibility assessments and clearly defined execution strategies. Participants examine resource studies, energy yield modelling, preliminary engineering, environmental and social assessments, land rights, grid connection studies and financial appraisal. The course addresses capital expenditure, operating costs, levelized cost of electricity, project cash flows, power purchase agreements, financing structures and sensitivity analysis. It also considers the effects of interest rates, foreign exchange exposure, inflation, supply chain volatility, curtailment, resource variability and changing market arrangements. Participants learn how to test investment assumptions and establish realistic project baselines before making major financial commitments.

Successful renewable energy delivery depends on close coordination among developers, engineering teams, equipment manufacturers, contractors, grid operators, financiers, regulators and local communities. Participants learn how to develop integrated project schedules, work breakdown structures, procurement plans, cost baselines and risk registers that reflect these interdependencies. The programme covers long-lead equipment management, module and turbine supply, balance-of-plant construction, foundation works, electrical systems, substations, transmission connections and commissioning. Project controls topics include critical path analysis, progress verification, earned value principles, contractor performance, change control, claims prevention and forecast development. Particular attention is given to grid readiness, testing requirements and the management of interfaces that can delay commercial operation even when construction is substantially complete.

The course also explores digitalization, sustainability and emerging technologies shaping the renewable energy sector. Participants consider geographic information systems, digital engineering, drone-based inspections, remote construction monitoring, digital twins and analytics-supported forecasting. Artificial intelligence may support resource analysis, schedule risk identification and reporting, but effective implementation requires data quality, cybersecurity, model validation and human oversight. The programme incorporates biodiversity protection, responsible land use, community engagement, supply chain due diligence, climate resilience, circularity and end-of-life planning for solar modules, wind turbine blades and electrical equipment. It also examines battery energy storage, hybrid renewable projects, grid flexibility and evolving requirements for integrating variable generation into reliable electricity systems.

By the end of the programme, participants will be better equipped to manage solar and wind projects from early development through construction, commissioning and handover. They will understand how to connect technical design, investment appraisal, procurement, construction planning, project controls and grid integration within a coordinated delivery framework. The course supports renewable energy developers, independent power producers, utilities, engineering contractors, investors and public-sector organizations seeking predictable delivery, stronger capital discipline and sustainable project outcomes. It emphasizes that successful renewable energy project delivery is measured not only by installed capacity or construction completion, but also by verified energy performance, safe operation, grid compliance, environmental responsibility and long-term investment value.

Duration

10 days

Who Should Attend

• Renewable energy project directors and project managers responsible for utility-scale solar and wind developments.

• Solar photovoltaic project developers coordinating site assessment, feasibility studies and investment approvals.

• Onshore and offshore wind project managers overseeing development, construction and commissioning.

• Engineering managers responsible for multidisciplinary design coordination and technical delivery.

• Electrical engineers working on inverters, collection systems, substations and grid connection infrastructure.

• Civil and structural engineers involved in foundations, access roads, drainage and supporting infrastructure.

• Wind resource analysts and energy yield specialists supporting project design and financial modelling.

• Solar resource assessment and performance modelling professionals involved in project feasibility and design.

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

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

• Cost estimators and finance professionals involved in capital budgets, project economics and investment appraisal.

• Procurement and supply chain managers sourcing modules, turbines, inverters, transformers and balance-of-plant equipment.

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

• Contracts and commercial managers administering EPC, EPCM, equipment supply and power purchase agreements.

• Grid connection specialists coordinating transmission infrastructure, utility approvals and system integration.

• Environmental, social and governance professionals managing permitting, biodiversity and community commitments.

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

• Commissioning and operations managers responsible for testing, handover and performance verification.

• Battery storage and hybrid energy specialists integrating storage with renewable generation facilities.

• Government officials, development finance professionals, utilities and investors involved in renewable energy infrastructure.

Course Objectives

• Understand the complete solar and wind project lifecycle, from resource assessment and development feasibility through construction, commissioning and commercial operation.

• Evaluate solar and wind technologies using resource data, site characteristics, energy yield assumptions, grid requirements and lifecycle performance considerations.

• Develop investment-ready business cases incorporating capital expenditure, operating costs, financing assumptions, revenue structures and project economic indicators.

• Apply project governance, stage-gate approvals, investment assurance and accountability frameworks appropriate to renewable energy developments.

• Establish integrated project scopes, work breakdown structures, responsibility matrices and interface arrangements across engineering and construction disciplines.

• Develop realistic schedules that coordinate permitting, design, procurement, manufacturing, construction, grid connection and commissioning milestones.

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

• Apply risk analysis, schedule forecasting and mitigation planning to address resource uncertainty, weather exposure, logistics constraints and equipment availability.

• Manage procurement, supplier performance, long-lead equipment, transportation and contractor interfaces to improve delivery reliability.

• Integrate grid connection requirements, electrical safety, environmental compliance, biodiversity protection and community engagement into project execution.

• Use digital engineering, data analytics and responsibly governed AI applications to improve reporting, forecasting, risk visibility and management decisions.

• Improve commissioning, performance testing, asset handover and benefits realization to support reliable renewable generation and sustainable long-term investment returns.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Renewable Energy Project Development Fundamentals

• Solar and wind energy markets, policy drivers and the role of renewable generation in electricity systems.

• Project lifecycle stages from opportunity screening and feasibility through construction and commercial operation.

• Differences between utility-scale solar, onshore wind, offshore wind and hybrid renewable energy developments.

• Investment objectives, project success criteria and alignment with organizational energy and sustainability strategies.

Module 2: Solar and Wind Resource Assessment

• Solar irradiance analysis, meteorological data quality and assessment of site-specific generation potential.

• Wind measurement campaigns, long-term resource correction and evaluation of wind conditions at turbine hub height.

• Energy yield modelling, performance assumptions, uncertainty analysis and independent technical validation.

• Resource variability, seasonal patterns, climate trends and implications for project design and revenue forecasts.

Module 3: Site Selection, Feasibility and Development Planning

• Site screening using land availability, terrain, access, resource quality and infrastructure proximity.

• Geotechnical surveys, topographical studies, drainage assessment and preliminary site layout development.

• Land rights, permitting, environmental and social assessments and stakeholder engagement requirements.

• Feasibility study preparation, development risks, project readiness criteria and investment decision documentation.

Module 4: Project Economics, Financial Modelling and Bankability

• Capital expenditure, operating expenditure and lifecycle cost modelling for solar and wind assets.

• Levelized cost of electricity, energy yield assumptions, capacity factors and revenue forecasting.

• Power purchase agreements, merchant market exposure, financing structures and lender due diligence.

• Sensitivity analysis for interest rates, inflation, foreign exchange, curtailment and equipment performance.

Module 5: Engineering Design and Technical Optimization

• Solar array configuration, module selection, inverter sizing and electrical system design considerations.

• Wind turbine selection, hub height, rotor characteristics and integration with site wind conditions.

• Balance-of-plant design, foundations, access roads, cable systems, substations and auxiliary infrastructure.

• Design reviews, constructability assessment, technical interfaces and management of engineering changes.

Module 6: Project Governance and Integrated Delivery Planning

• Project governance structures, sponsorship, delegated authorities and stage-gate approval requirements.

• Project scope definition, work breakdown structures and responsibility assignment across delivery teams.

• Integrated execution plans, milestone definitions, resource strategies and construction readiness criteria.

• Interface registers, decision logs, assurance reviews and coordination of developer, contractor and utility responsibilities.

Module 7: Procurement, Contracts and Renewable Energy Supply Chains

• Procurement strategies for solar modules, inverters, wind turbines, transformers and electrical balance-of-plant equipment.

• EPC, EPCM, multi-package contracting and allocation of technical, commercial and performance risks.

• Supplier qualification, tender evaluation, manufacturing surveillance and factory acceptance testing.

• Logistics planning, customs clearance, equipment transport, supplier expediting and management of delivery disruptions.

Module 8: Integrated Scheduling and Resource Planning

• Development of integrated schedules covering development approvals, engineering, procurement and construction.

• Critical path analysis, activity sequencing, milestone dependencies and resource-loaded planning.

• Weather-window planning, seasonal construction constraints and scheduling of specialist equipment and installation teams.

• Schedule risk analysis, delay forecasting, recovery strategies and coordination of contractor work fronts.

Module 9: Construction Management and Site Execution

• Solar site preparation, piling, mounting structure installation, module placement and electrical installation sequencing.

• Wind turbine foundation construction, tower erection, nacelle installation and rotor assembly coordination.

• Site logistics, heavy transport, cranes, lifting operations, materials handling and contractor safety management.

• Quality inspections, progress verification, productivity monitoring and management of construction constraints.

Module 10: Grid Connection and Electrical Infrastructure

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

• Collection networks, substations, transformers, switchgear and export transmission infrastructure.

• Grid code compliance, voltage and frequency control, protection systems and power quality requirements.

• Interconnection schedules, energization readiness, utility approvals and management of grid-related delays.

Module 11: Project Cost Control and Financial Performance

• Capital cost estimating, estimate basis documentation and alignment between design maturity and budget accuracy.

• Cost baselines, commitments, actual expenditure, accruals and cash-flow forecasting.

• Contingency management, escalation exposure, budget change approval and financial governance.

• Cost variance analysis, estimate-at-completion forecasting and evidence-based corrective action planning.

Module 12: Project Controls, Risk and Performance Reporting

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

• Earned value management, physical progress measurement and validation of contractor performance reporting.

• Risk registers, quantitative schedule analysis, uncertainty modelling and mitigation ownership.

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

Module 13: Contract Management, Change Control and Commercial Assurance

• Contract administration, payment certification, supplier obligations and performance guarantee management.

• Formal change control, technical variation assessment and evaluation of cost and schedule impacts.

• Delay analysis, claims prevention, extension-of-time assessments and dispute avoidance practices.

• Commercial risk monitoring, contractual records, compliance reviews and audit-ready project documentation.

Module 14: Environmental, Social and Sustainability Management

• Environmental permitting, biodiversity assessment, habitat protection and monitoring of construction impacts.

• Community engagement, land access, grievance mechanisms and management of social commitments.

• Climate resilience, water use, emissions reduction and sustainable construction practices.

• Circularity, waste management, module recycling, wind turbine blade end-of-life planning and responsible sourcing.

Module 15: Digital Delivery, Energy Storage and Emerging Technologies

• Geographic information systems, digital engineering, common data environments and integrated project information management.

• Drone inspections, remote construction monitoring, digital twins and data-enabled progress verification.

• Predictive analytics and responsible AI applications for schedule forecasting, resource assessment and risk screening.

• Battery energy storage, hybrid renewable systems, cybersecurity and data governance for digital project delivery.

Module 16: Commissioning, Performance Testing and Operational Handover

• Mechanical completion, electrical testing, system verification and commissioning readiness reviews.

• Solar plant performance testing, wind turbine commissioning and verification of contractual performance requirements.

• Grid synchronization, reliability demonstration, defect resolution and acceptance by asset owners and operators.

• Asset documentation, maintenance readiness, final accounts, lessons learned and long-term benefits realization.

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.