Our power and energy clients often ask, “how fast can you complete my project?” We spoke to Senior Project Scientist Olivia Speckman to uncover the most common challenges that delay power and energy projects and how to expedite the process with the right project partner.
Understanding power & energy project needs
North American electric grids are currently undergoing massive upgrades to meet today’s surging power demands. Many of these systems were built decades ago and were not designed to address modern developments such as data centers, electric car charging stations, soaring technology usage, and significant population growth.
Improving this crucial infrastructure is a complex process. Whether installing new substations or extending transmission lines, the average power and energy project can take anywhere from six to 18 months. How fast they are completed varies based on:
- Timeline: Mapping out your project’s schedule and urgency level helps teams plan resources and availability.
- Project size/complexity: Details such as project workflow and construction method affect the level of effort and manpower needed.
- Team capacity: Utilizing resources across our firm provides us with the necessary bandwidth.
What are common power & energy project delays?
There are several challenges that can prolong power and energy projects.
- Right of way: We work closely with the right of way and outreach teams to ensure landowners have been notified prior to our surveys.
- Subcontractor coordination: Any disruption to the necessary order of operations causes a trickle-down effect of waiting for completed steps to move forward.
- Scope change: When projects grow expand beyond original plans, teams must reallocate resources and take a new approach.
- Permitting: Failure to properly account for permit approval timelines at the start of the project can lead to schedule issues.
What to look for in a power & energy partner firm
While some project delays are unavoidable, the most effective way to expedite power and energy projects is to partner with a consulting firm that offers:
- Multidisciplinary services: Having diverse experts under one roof significantly cuts down on communication delays and errors, allowing projects to quickly pivot without waiting.
- One point of contact: While having access to a whole team is key, funneling information through one project manager creates a smoother experience for all.
- Holistic experience: Solving one problem without understanding how that affects the entire project can create future issues. Comprehensive solutions that pull from multiple perspectives help ensure a more effective end result.
V3’s power and energy experts have partnered with leading energy suppliers such as Duke Energy and AEP for over two decades, providing a wide range of multidisciplinary services that accelerate success. Our engineers, surveyors, construction professionals, and scientists support you with:
- Asset Protection
- Civil Site Design
- Construction Quality Assurance
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Permitting
- Flood Proofing & Flood Forecasting
- Ohio Power & Siting Board Support
- Route & Site Selection
- Structural Engineering
- Surveying
- SWPPP
- Wetland Delineation
“What I love about my job is the team collaboration. I’m not just working on one part; I’m understanding how each component fits in with the rest, working with an expert team to find the best solutions. We have the capacity to take on complex projects and offer a quality experience that’s created long-term client relationships.”
Olivia Speckman, Senior Project Scientist
Connect with our team to learn more.