Capability
Solar Energy
Dedicated to technical excellence
Profile
We are an independent, global firm of designers, planners,
engineers, consultants and technical specialists offering
a broad range of professional services.
Solar energy projects in numbers
220+
Arup is a wholly independent organisation owned in trust. With no shareholders or external
investors, we are able to determine our own priorities and direction as a business.
We have extensive experience across all technical, financial and commercial aspects of solar
energy projects at each project stage. Our dedicated in-house solar energy analysis team is
supported by electrical, mechanical and structural engineers with specific solar energy skills
and experience and a team of transaction advisory specialists with a proven track-record in
developing commercial financial models and providing financial advisory services.
75+
Our investor and lender technical due diligence approach incorporates a comprehensive, but
clear framework for reviewing risk at each development stage and we take care to provide
meaningful recommendations for all stakeholders to mitigate these risks.
35+
Arup has extensive knowledge of South Africa policy, regulation and processes associated
with local solar energy projects within South Africa. We have provided technical advisory
services for over 2GW of solar projects worldwide.
Global solar energy projects at a glance
Project:
Megawatt Park Block E
Project:
Ilanga
Project:
Kalahari Solar CSP
Capacity: 350kW
Client:
Eskom
Capacity: 150MW
Client:
Eskom
Capacity: 75MW
Client:
Confidential
Location: South Africa
Scope:
Owner's engineer
Location: South Africa
Scope:
Portfolio management and
Location: South Africa
Scope:
Due diligence
Type:
Project:
owner's engineer
Roof mounted PV
Campus Iberdrola
Type:
Rooftop and ground mounted PV
Project:
DIFA Jerez Retail Centre
Type:
Concentrated solar power
Project:
Athens National Opera House
Capacity: 500kW
Alonso Balaguer
Client:
Capacity: 2MW
Deutsche Immobilien Fonds Ag
Client:
Capacity: 1.3MW
Stravros Niarchos Foundation
Client:
Location: Spain
Location: Spain
Feasibility, concept and
Scope:
Location: Greece
Scope:
Feasibility, concept and
Scope:
detailed design
detailed design
Type:
Roof mounted PV
Type:
Roof mounted PV
Project:
De Aar PV
Project:
Kalkbult PV
Feasibility, concept, detailed design
and construction
Type:
Roof mounted PV
Project:
Rosherville PV Facility
Capacity: 75MW
Solar Capital
Client:
Capacity: 75MW
Scatec Solar
Client:
Capacity: 400kW
Eskom
Client:
Location: South Africa
Location: South Africa
Scope:
Owner's engineer services
Scope:
Due Diligence
Location: South Africa
Owner's engineer
Scope:
Type:
Ground mounted PV
Type:
Ground mounted PV
Type:
Ground mounted PV
World class expertise
Specialist knowledge
Specific yield analysis
Our specialist services include
Site energy yield optimisation requires
careful analysis of solar irradiance level and
type (direct/diffuse), physical installation
constraints, shading characteristics and
appropriate selection and integration of
components.
• Multi-discipline owners engineer and
investor technical due diligence.
Our approach is to conduct thorough site
audits and thereafter, utilise onsite measured
data where available in combination with
multiple, synthetic solar resource data sets
and industry standard analysis software.
For building roof or façade integrated
systems, Arup has developed a Geographic
Information Systems (GIS)-based Irradiation
Mapping Tool (IMap). This tool enables
rapid analysis of solar yield potential for
individual buildings or portfolios’ ranging to
thousands of buildings.
• Integrated site analysis, component duediligence, engineering design, procurement,
construction management and asset
management – via our multi-disciplinary
structural, civil, mechanical, electrical and
controls teams.
• Risk management during design,
construction and operation stages.
Integrated technical advisory
$60 billion
The combined value of closed
transactions worldwide that Arup
have advised on over the last three
years across our infrastructure
market sectors.
• Determination of resource and energy yield
loss and uncertainty assumptions across the
project lifetime, considering meteorological
dataset sources, transposition models,
specific losses, PV module rating and
annual degradation.
• Application and development of irradiation
mapping and energy yield assessment tools.
• Development of project- specific financial
models to bankable standards.
IMap solar irradiation mapping output example
We provide integrated services at every stage of your project...
Our knowledge of the solar
market, development process
and finance models will
inform your development
and business plan.
We provide the tools,
technical and commercial
advisory and analysis to help
you prioritise and optimise
project investment decisions.
We understand
programme, cost and
performance risks and
will ensure compliance
with local legislation.
We provide complete evaluations of technical
investment risks and propose clear mitigations.
We understand the importance of robust
contracts to reduce investment risk and
optimise performance.
A complete service offering
Skills and services
We provide services which cover all aspects of planning,
advisory, engineering and management. Our roles include
owner's engineer, lender and equity technical advisor,
contractor's engineer, REIPPP independent engineer and
asset manager.
Skills
Services
Solar energy consulting
Electrical engineering: LV, MV, HV, EHV
Geotechnical engineering
Business and project development planning
Financial modeling and finance advisory
Site screening and feasibility studies
Surveys: geotech | hydro | topo | climate
Lender and investor due diligence
Programme development and management
Transport access and impact assessments
Planning, permitting and EIA management
Solar resource monitoring and analysis
Utility and building scale solar farm
design and energy yield analysis
Grid applications and grid code analysis
Contract drafting and EPC management
Construction and operations monitoring
Defect due diligence and expert witness
Civil and structural engineering:
foundations, roads, bridges, utilities, drainage
Controls and instrumentation engineering
Transport and logistics consulting
Planning and permitting consulting
EIA management
Financial and economic consulting
Engineering, procurement, contract
management and administration
Project and programme management
Health and safety consulting
CAD and GIS
Engineering competence
is at the heart of Arup.
Our experts work as an
integrated team to balance
performance against cost.
We understand the
importance of construction
monitoring diligence and
effective communication
during implementation.
We provide the right resources
for effective asset management
to help maximise operational
performance and returns
on investment.
Your local technical partner
Local team
Our solar energy specialists are
based locally in our Johannesburg
and Cape Town offices, supported
by our national and global staff
network.
This enables our team to:
• provide mobile points of contact for
face to face discussions
• provide cost-efficient services based on
in-depth knowledge of the planning
processes, engineering standards and
codes, power purchase programmes and
regulations specific to South Africa
• facilitate client access to local
stakeholder contacts within Eskom,
government departments, investors,
lenders, contractors and manufacturers
• apply international experience and
capability to local projects within the
appropriate context
A partnership approach
Our clients
,,
Arup has provided
Lender and Equity due
diligence services for
our wind and solar
projects submitted in REIPPPP.
ACED very much enjoyed
working with the Arup team and
particularly valued Arup’s robust
approach to assessment of risk,
flexibility with programme
pressures and clear methods of
reporting. We thank the Arup team
for their hard work and cooperation and look forward to
future work together. ,,
James Cumming - African Clean Energy
Developments (ACED) (Pty) Ltd
,,
Arup is currently
providing Lender’s
Technical Advisory
services to Nedbank
across the full spectrum of
development phases, from pre-bid
due diligence through to
construction monitoring. The Arup
team are committed and
demonstrate a firm
understanding of the renewables
market. Their approach to
communicating is comprehensive
and unambiguous, which enables
Nedbank to clearly understand
technical risks to inform our
investment decisions. ,,
Mitch Brandt - Nedbank Capital
Developers
Gestamp Solar
SlimSun
Cennergi
African Clean Energy Developments
Mainstream Renewable Power
Just Energy
Renosterberg Energy Company
AE AMD Renewable Energy
Mulilo Renewable Energy
Acciona Energy
Eskom
Clare Energy
Solar Reserve
SkyPower
Momentous Energy
,,
We truly value the
relationship that has
developed between
Mulilo and Arup.
Mulilo has been very satisfied
with the services and support
provided by Arup and look forward
to an on-going professional
relationship with our projects. ,,
Warren Morse – Mulilo Renewable Energy
,,
Arup is providing
Lender’s due diligence
services for two of our
REIPPPP PV energy
projects. The Arup team have a
logical approach and are
committed and reliable. Their local
team has a good understanding of
the challenges facing European
developers in the South African
market and they have
demonstrated the effectiveness of
their global staff resources. ,,
Scatec Solar
Sun Edison
Solar Capita
Lenders
IDC of South Africa
DBSA
Standard Bank
Nedbank Capital
Rand Merchant Bank
HSBC
Barclays
Adrien Mallet – AE AMD Renewable Energy
Industry awards
Winner 2013
Winner 2012 & 2011
Best Technical Advisor of the year.
Global Technical Adviser and Energy Technical Adviser of the year.
Partnership Awards
Infrastructure Journal Awards
A global organisation
Contact us
38 90 11,500
Countries
Offices
Staff
Arup in Africa
Arup online community
We have over 700 staff located in our offices across South Africa,
Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Kenya and Nigeria.
Join the discussion, or just catch up on the
latest sector news with Arup staff at:
Within South Africa we have over 400 engineers, planners, project
managers and technical specialists.
thoughts.arup.com
Our solar energy experts are located in our Cape Town and
Johannesburg offices.
www.linkedin.com/company/arup
@ArupGroup
www.arup.com
For further information contact:
Poya Rasekhi
+27 11 218 7600
[email protected]
Justin Wimbush
+27 21 409 3500
[email protected]
Paul Cosgrove
+27 21 409 3500
[email protected]