Owner's Engineering is independent technical oversight of a solar or storage project from design through commissioning, provided by Best Energy Partners. It is built for project owners, tax equity investors, and lenders who need an engineering opinion that is not tied to the equipment supplier or contractor. Our team has reviewed more than 850 MW of solar across utility-scale, C&I, and community projects.
What deliverables does Owner's Engineering include?
| Deliverable | Who uses it | Project stage |
|---|---|---|
| Independent engineering (IE) report | Tax equity investors, lenders | Financing and pre-NTP |
| Energy model and production estimate peer review | Investors, lenders, owners | Financing |
| Design review and QA/QC | Owners, EPC oversight | Pre-construction and construction |
| Commissioning oversight and COD handoff | Owners, operators | Commissioning |
How does an Owner's Engineering engagement work?
- 1.Assess: Independent review of design, energy model, and project documents, including risks not yet priced.
- 2.Advise: A written recommendation with the economics and tradeoffs laid out.
- 3.Execute: Field oversight through construction, commissioning, and COD handoff.
What kinds of problems does this review catch?
- A DC overcurrent risk that would have delayed interconnection approval.
- A grounding design error caught before mobilization, avoiding re-trenching of 40 acres on a 120 MW build.
Frequently asked questions
What is Owner's Engineering?
Owner's Engineering is independent technical oversight that protects the project owner's capital. The engineer reviews the design, energy model, and construction quality on the owner's behalf, rather than on behalf of the equipment supplier or contractor.
Who needs an independent engineering (IE) report?
Tax equity investors and lenders typically require an IE report before they fund a solar or storage project. The report gives them an engineering opinion they can rely on to size and underwrite the investment.
When in the project does Owner's Engineering start?
Engagements usually start before notice to proceed (NTP) so design problems are found while they are still inexpensive to fix. Oversight then continues through construction and commissioning to COD handoff.
How is independent review different from the EPC's own QA/QC?
The EPC checks its own work. An independent engineer checks it for the owner. Best Energy Partners has no equipment to sell and no construction pipeline to protect, so our recommendations serve the owner's outcome.
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