Renewable energy projects rely on teams of professionals to take them from an initial idea through to completion. There are many different types of projects including onshore wind farm projects, solar energy installations and the latest energy storage systems such as battery facilities.
A renewable energy project manager is crucial to the success of projects. They manage all aspects of a project, and coordinate with many people to ensure that it is completed on time, within a budget and in a safe manner.
Managing Renewable Energy Projects
A renewable energy project manager oversees the planning and delivery of renewable energy projects. Depending on the organisation and type of project, they may become involved during the early planning stages and remain responsible until construction is complete and the project becomes operational.
Planning and Scheduling
The core of managing a renewable energy project is the planning of it. Before work begins, the project manager will help establish the project schedule, key milestones, resources and expected costs. Establishing an accurate cost for the project is equally important.
Renewable energy developments often involve several stages, including site assessments, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. Delays during one stage can affect the entire project, so project managers need to monitor progress and identify potential problems early.
Managing Budgets and Resources
Project managers are also responsible for keeping projects financially controlled. This can involve preparing budgets, monitoring expenditure, reviewing forecasts and ensuring resources are being used effectively. This can involve updating forecasts and ensuring that the optimal use is being made of all resources available to the project.
There is always the risk of unforeseen costs occurring on large projects. A good understanding of finance and commerce is needed in order to manage the suppliers and contractors as well as deal with the financial departments of a company. This helps to keep costs under control and ensure safety and quality.
Working With Different Teams
Renewable energy projects bring together professionals from many backgrounds. Engineers, environmental specialists, construction teams, consultants, suppliers, landowners and local authorities may all be involved.
The project manager acts as a central point of communication between these groups. They may organise project meetings, provide progress updates, manage contractors and ensure everyone understands their responsibilities.
Managing Risk and Compliance
A renewable energy project manager must consider a wide range of potential risks including delays due to weather, supplier or sub-contractor failure, defects with plant and materials, non-compliance with planning conditions and variations in cost.
The impact of risk on health and safety on site is important as it can affect not only the core project team but also all other third party contractors working on site, including local skilled labourers and installers.
What Skills Does a Renewable Energy Project Manager Need?
Becoming a renewable energy project manager will require a mix of technical knowledge of renewable energy technologies, and good management skills to organise and deliver the project.
This means being able to manage multiple work streams whilst delivering against project objectives. Additionally, being able to think on your feet and come up with solutions to unexpected problems that arise during the development and construction phases of energy projects.
Other valuable skills include leadership, budgeting, negotiation, communication, risk management and the ability to work with technical teams across different stages of a project.
Building a Career in Renewable Energy Project Management
There is no single route into renewable energy project management. Many professionals begin their careers in engineering, construction, energy, environmental consultancy or another technical discipline before moving into project management.
Experience gained from managing complex projects within industries such as infrastructure, utilities and traditional energy can also be highly relevant. As experience is gained within the renewable energy project manager role, it is normal practice for individuals to progress to senior project manager, programme manager, project director or similar senior management roles within the clean energy sector.
Finding Your Next Clean Energy Opportunity
Projects in clean energy are complex and need to be managed throughout their entire development. For professionals with strong organisational, commercial and leadership skills, it can provide the opportunity to work on difficult projects while contributing to renewable energy.
Alchemy Global Talent Solutions specialise in placing professionals within clean energy companies globally.
If you are looking for your next opportunity in renewable energy or searching for experienced professionals to strengthen your clean energy team, contact Alchemy Global Talent Solutions to discover how our specialist recruitment team can help.
