By Kevin Hann, CTO, Utilligence.
As part of our work, we often find ourselves working through complex tenders for solar parks and substations. One recurring challenge is that the specifications we have been given often contain significant technical issues, signalling the increasing need for a client engineer – the ‘engineer’s engineer.’
Some of the issues we encounter with tender engineering specs include:
- Incorrect application of switchgear or circuit breakers
- Protection specifications that aren’t quite right
- Inadequate inter tripping to the DNO or circuit breakers
- Too many circuit breakers in a series
- Incorrect application of G99 or G100 requirements
- HV metering specified without necessary voltage transformers
- Incorrect transformer vector groups and ignored harmonic ratings
This creates a real dilemma during the tender process: Do you quote exactly what’s asked for, knowing you’ll likely need costly redesigns and variations later? Or do you factor in the necessary corrections upfront, potentially pricing yourself out of the bid?
This highlights the crucial need for an established, expert electrical consultant – the client engineer.
An ideal scenario involves a client engineer producing the specification, handling RFIs, evaluating tenders and providing essential assessment throughout the project duration. They ensure the project starts on a foundation of sound engineering. Unfortunately, we sometimes see companies attempting to wear both hats – acting as both the client’s engineer (the ‘game keeper’) and the contractor (the ‘poacher’). Often, their specifications are flawed.
At Utilligence, we’re keen to quote against well-prepared specifications. But we also bring the expertise to spot where specifications are incorrect and raise those issues. Increasingly, we’re being asked to step into the vital role of the client’s engineer. While the client’s engineer role may not be as financially lucrative as the contractor’s scope, the reduction in risk and the less onerous cash flow requirements make it an attractive part of a project’s success.
We bring the detailed knowledge needed to ensure your project’s technical foundation is solid from day one, helping you avoid costly pitfalls down the line.
Save on your project costs with an experienced client engineering service
Contact us today to ensure your next project is built on engineering excellence and – more importantly, is specified right first time.