Course Introduction

Solar energy projects are becoming increasingly important components of modern power systems, supporting energy security, decarbonization, electrification, and the transition toward more sustainable energy generation. Successful solar project delivery requires more than technical knowledge; it demands integrated planning across feasibility, land, permitting, engineering, procurement, financing, construction, grid connection, commissioning, and operational readiness. This course provides a structured approach to managing the complete solar project lifecycle.

The Solar Project Planning and Delivery Course develops practical capabilities for professionals responsible for planning, developing, executing, controlling, and completing utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and other major solar energy projects. Participants will explore project development methodologies, site assessment, solar resource analysis, technology selection, engineering coordination, project scheduling, cost management, procurement, contracting, construction planning, quality management, and commissioning.

The course places strong emphasis on translating project concepts into realistic and executable delivery strategies. Participants will examine how to establish project scope, work breakdown structures, development schedules, budgets, risk registers, procurement plans, resource requirements, and governance frameworks. Particular attention is given to the challenges that can affect solar projects, including land constraints, permitting delays, grid availability, equipment lead times, weather conditions, supply-chain disruption, contractor performance, financing requirements, and changing regulatory environments.

Participants will also gain insight into the technical and commercial considerations associated with photovoltaic modules, inverters, mounting systems, trackers, transformers, substations, energy storage, electrical collection systems, monitoring platforms, and grid interconnection. Modern technologies such as drones, GIS, BIM, digital twins, remote monitoring, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automated construction reporting, and digital project controls are incorporated to demonstrate how technology can improve project planning, productivity, transparency, and delivery performance.

Commercial and contractual management is another major component of the course. Participants will explore EPC contracting, procurement strategies, supplier selection, warranties, performance guarantees, payment mechanisms, variations, claims, delays, change management, and contractor performance. The course also addresses environmental and social requirements, stakeholder engagement, health and safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and sustainability considerations that increasingly influence the success and bankability of solar projects.

By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage solar projects from early-stage development through construction, commissioning, handover, and operational readiness. They will be equipped with practical methods for controlling cost, schedule, scope, quality, risk, and contractual performance while responding to evolving renewable energy markets, grid modernization, energy storage, climate resilience, and emerging solar technologies.

Duration

5 days

Who Should Attend

• Solar project managers and project directors responsible for renewable energy project development and delivery.

• Renewable energy developers involved in utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and distributed solar projects.

• Electrical, civil, mechanical, structural, and renewable energy engineers supporting solar project development and execution.

• EPC managers and contractors responsible for engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities.

• Project controls professionals responsible for solar project planning, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, and reporting.

• Procurement and supply-chain professionals sourcing modules, inverters, trackers, transformers, cables, structures, and other project equipment.

• Contract and commercial managers responsible for EPC contracts, supplier agreements, claims, variations, and commercial performance.

• Energy consultants and technical advisors supporting feasibility studies, due diligence, project development, and construction supervision.

• Investors, asset owners, lenders, and financial professionals seeking stronger understanding of solar project delivery risks and requirements.

• Construction managers and site supervisors coordinating civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, and installation activities.

• Quality assurance and quality control professionals responsible for equipment, materials, installation, testing, and project compliance.

• Health, safety, environmental, and social professionals supporting solar project construction and regulatory requirements.

• Grid connection, transmission, and distribution professionals involved in integrating solar generation into electricity networks.

• Operations and maintenance professionals preparing solar assets for commissioning, handover, reliability, and long-term performance.

• Professionals seeking to strengthen their knowledge of modern solar project planning, delivery, controls, and renewable energy technologies.

Course Objectives

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the solar project lifecycle and apply structured planning and delivery principles from initial concept and feasibility through construction, commissioning, and handover.

• Develop practical skills for defining project scope, work breakdown structures, deliverables, milestones, resources, responsibilities, interfaces, assumptions, and execution requirements for complex solar developments.

• Evaluate solar project feasibility by considering solar resource availability, site conditions, land requirements, grid access, environmental constraints, technology options, permitting, commercial factors, and project economics.

• Strengthen project scheduling and planning capabilities by integrating engineering, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, construction, testing, commissioning, grid connection, and operational readiness activities.

• Apply effective cost management techniques to establish project budgets, monitor expenditure and commitments, forecast final costs, analyze variances, and maintain financial control throughout project delivery.

• Develop stronger procurement and contracting strategies for solar projects, including EPC structures, supplier selection, equipment procurement, long-lead item management, performance guarantees, warranties, and commercial risk allocation.

• Identify and manage project risks associated with land, permitting, grid connection, weather, technology, equipment quality, supply chains, construction, financing, contractors, regulatory changes, and stakeholder expectations.

• Apply modern project management technologies such as GIS, BIM, drones, digital twins, AI-assisted forecasting, automated reporting, remote monitoring, and integrated dashboards to improve project visibility and decision-making.

• Strengthen capabilities in contractor, stakeholder, quality, environmental, health and safety, and interface management while maintaining effective communication and accountability throughout project execution.

• Develop strategies for delivering safe, reliable, sustainable, commercially viable, and grid-ready solar projects while responding to energy storage integration, market changes, climate risks, technological innovation, and evolving renewable energy policies.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Solar Project Development Fundamentals and Lifecycle Management

• Understanding the role of solar energy projects in electricity generation, energy security, decarbonization, electrification, and the development of modern renewable energy systems.

• Reviewing the complete solar project lifecycle from opportunity identification and feasibility through development, financing, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, handover, and operations.

• Establishing project governance structures, decision-making processes, stage gates, reporting arrangements, responsibilities, approvals, and accountability mechanisms for successful project delivery.

• Examining emerging solar development trends including utility-scale projects, distributed generation, hybrid renewable systems, energy storage integration, and increasingly flexible power markets.

Module 2: Site Selection, Solar Resource Assessment and Feasibility

• Evaluating potential solar project sites using solar irradiation, topography, land availability, access, geotechnical conditions, hydrology, environmental sensitivity, infrastructure, and grid proximity.

• Understanding solar resource assessment methods, energy yield considerations, meteorological data, irradiation variability, performance assumptions, degradation, losses, and uncertainty in project forecasting.

• Conducting preliminary technical and commercial feasibility assessments to determine project viability, development constraints, potential returns, major risks, and key decision requirements.

• Applying GIS, satellite imagery, remote sensing, drone surveys, and geospatial analysis to improve site screening, land assessment, layout development, and project development decisions.

Module 3: Solar Technology, Engineering and Design Coordination

• Reviewing major solar technologies and components including photovoltaic modules, inverters, mounting structures, trackers, transformers, cables, switchgear, monitoring systems, and electrical collection networks.

• Coordinating multidisciplinary engineering activities covering civil works, structural design, electrical systems, geotechnical requirements, drainage, roads, security, communications, and grid interconnection.

• Managing engineering deliverables, design reviews, technical specifications, design changes, constructability assessments, interface requirements, document control, and technical approvals.

• Assessing emerging technologies such as bifacial modules, advanced tracking systems, high-efficiency cells, floating solar, agrivoltaics, smart inverters, and hybrid solar-plus-storage configurations.

Module 4: Project Scope, Planning, Scheduling and Execution Strategy

• Developing project scope statements, work breakdown structures, execution plans, deliverables, milestones, interfaces, responsibilities, assumptions, exclusions, and acceptance criteria.

• Building integrated project schedules that coordinate development approvals, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, civil works, installation, testing, commissioning, and grid connection.

• Establishing project resource plans covering personnel, equipment, materials, specialist services, temporary facilities, site infrastructure, logistics, and construction support requirements.

• Managing schedule risks arising from permitting, land access, equipment availability, grid connection, weather, logistics, design changes, contractor productivity, and supply-chain constraints.

Module 5: Procurement, Supply Chain and Equipment Management

• Developing procurement strategies for photovoltaic modules, inverters, trackers, transformers, cables, structures, monitoring equipment, switchgear, storage systems, and balance-of-system components.

• Managing tendering, technical evaluation, commercial evaluation, supplier due diligence, negotiations, purchase orders, quality requirements, delivery schedules, and supplier performance.

• Controlling long-lead equipment and materials through manufacturing surveillance, factory inspections, logistics planning, expediting, customs coordination, storage, preservation, and site delivery management.

• Addressing emerging supply-chain challenges involving commodity prices, manufacturing concentration, trade restrictions, geopolitical risks, module traceability, technology changes, and supplier bankability.

Module 6: EPC Contracting, Commercial Management and Project Controls

• Evaluating EPC, design-build, multi-contract, and other delivery models while considering cost certainty, risk allocation, technical accountability, schedule control, and project financing requirements.

• Managing contract administration activities including payment milestones, performance guarantees, warranties, variations, extensions of time, notices, documentation, and contractor obligations.

• Establishing integrated cost and schedule controls using baselines, progress measurement, earned value concepts, forecasting, trend analysis, variance reporting, and corrective action processes.

• Managing claims and disputes through effective records, early warnings, change control, negotiation, contract interpretation, evidence management, and proactive commercial governance.

Module 7: Solar Construction Management and Site Delivery

• Planning and controlling site activities including earthworks, grading, foundations, roads, drainage, mounting structures, tracker installation, module installation, cabling, electrical works, and substation construction.

• Managing construction resources, work fronts, labor productivity, equipment utilization, material availability, contractor interfaces, site logistics, temporary facilities, and daily execution requirements.

• Implementing quality assurance and quality control processes covering incoming equipment inspections, installation standards, testing, non-conformance management, corrective actions, and construction acceptance.

• Managing construction challenges associated with extreme weather, dust, high temperatures, difficult terrain, flooding, security, labor availability, remote locations, and restricted site access.

Module 8: Grid Connection, Testing, Commissioning and Handover

• Planning grid interconnection activities including connection studies, substation interfaces, protection systems, metering, communications, control systems, grid-code compliance, and utility coordination.

• Developing structured testing and commissioning plans for modules, inverters, transformers, switchgear, protection systems, monitoring systems, communications, and overall plant performance.

• Managing energization, synchronization, performance testing, defect resolution, punch-list closure, reliability verification, documentation, training, warranties, and operational acceptance.

• Addressing emerging grid requirements such as inverter-based resource integration, reactive power management, grid-forming capabilities, battery storage coordination, and advanced plant controls.

Module 9: Risk, HSE, Environmental and Stakeholder Management

• Developing comprehensive risk registers covering development, land, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, grid connection, commercial, financial, environmental, and operational risks.

• Integrating health and safety requirements into solar construction activities involving electrical systems, lifting operations, working at height, excavation, vehicles, equipment, heat exposure, and commissioning.

• Managing environmental and social requirements including land disturbance, biodiversity, water use, waste, vegetation, community impacts, cultural heritage, local employment, and regulatory compliance.

• Developing effective stakeholder engagement strategies for landowners, communities, regulators, utilities, investors, contractors, local authorities, environmental agencies, and other project stakeholders.

Module 10: Digital Solar Delivery, Sustainability and Future Industry Trends

• Applying digital project controls, BIM, GIS, drones, IoT sensors, cloud platforms, digital twins, AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to improve project delivery and asset visibility.

• Developing sustainability and climate resilience strategies addressing water management, biodiversity, circularity, equipment recycling, extreme weather, climate adaptation, and responsible project development.

• Evaluating solar-plus-storage, hybrid renewable projects, green hydrogen integration, smart grids, advanced forecasting, flexible generation, and other emerging approaches to renewable energy development.

• Establishing continuous improvement, lessons learned, performance benchmarking, asset data management, lifecycle optimization, and innovation strategies that support long-term solar project value and reliability.

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.