ArchivesPre-Commissioning & Commissioning Supervision

Freetown 6 MWp PV Plant

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Project Details

NameYearLocationClientTypeDescriptionScope
Freetown 6 MWp PV Plant2018Freetown, Sierra LeoneSMRTPhotovoltaicEPC project for a 6 MWp solar farm with a 61KV substation and overhead grid linesPart of JV for EPC; handled civil design, AC side, substation, and overhead connection

Project Background & Objectives

The Freetown 6 MWp PV Plant was initiated as a landmark renewable infrastructure development to diversify Sierra Leone’s national energy mix and reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. Sponsored by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the utility-scale installation was designed to feed clean electricity directly into the national grid to satisfy roughly 6% of Freetown’s total power demand. Within this critical development context, PDP Energy joined the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) joint venture under the client SMRT Projects & Energy Solutions.
 
The primary company-specific objectives centered on executing the complex detailed power plant engineering and procurement technicalities. This focused on safely integrating the new clean energy capacity via precise civil engineering layouts, full AC-side system design, and the development of a 61KV distribution substation leading up to a secure overhead transmission grid connection.

Project Challenges

Introducing the nation’s first large-scale PV facility presented significant engineering and logistical complexities. Connecting a new fluctuating renewable source into an under-developed local utility network required rigorous grid-stability planning. PDP Energy had to overcome these technical hurdles by designing robust infrastructure from scratch, including complex low- and high-voltage connections, comprehensive civil engineering layouts, a dedicated 61KV distribution substation, and a specialized overhead grid line extension to guarantee safe, stable power injection without overloading the existing network.

Project Outcomes

Operating within a specialized joint venture, PDP Energy successfully delivered the complete detailed power plant engineering package, covering the entire AC network side and substation infrastructure. The project effectively established a model for modern renewable energy deployment in West Africa. By delivering stable, synchronized grid connections, the engineering framework successfully paved the way for commissioning a pioneering solar asset that provides high-performance, eco-friendly electricity to thousands of urban households and local businesses.

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Kaya & Koudougou 2 x 25 MW Power Plants

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Project Details

NameYearLocationClientTypeDescriptionScope
Kaya & Koudougou 2 x 25 MW Power Plants2026Kaya & Koudougou, Burkina FasoSonabelPower PlantTwo 25 MW power plants based on high-speed generators under a BOOT modelOwner engineer handling design review and site supervision for all engineering trades

Project Background & Objectives

The Kaya & Koudougou 2 x 25 MW Power Plants project was initiated as a major national utility development to significantly increase electrical capacity and stabilize grid infrastructure across multiple regions in Burkina Faso. Commissioned by the state utility Sonabel, this utility-scale infrastructure program involves the construction of two 25 MW power plants based on high-speed generators under a BOOT model (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer). Within this high-value, multi-site energy framework, PDP Energy was appointed to protect the utility’s interests and ensure technical excellence. The primary company-specific objectives centered on fulfilling the comprehensive Owner engineer role handling design review and site supervision for all engineering trades, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and automation disciplines.

Project Challenges

Orchestrating rigorous quality assurance and oversight simultaneously across two geographically separated power plants introduces extraordinary logistical and technical challenges. High-speed generator configurations demand precise alignment, advanced vibration isolation, and meticulous cooling and fuel auxiliary designs to withstand the harsh, high-temperature environmental conditions of the region. As the Owner’s Engineer, PDP Energy had to navigate complex technical hurdles, including auditing massive multi-disciplinary contractor blueprints under tight timelines, validating specialized equipment compliance with international BOOT standards, and enforcing strict construction milestones. This required flawless coordination among civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering trades on-site to eliminate design flaws before physical installation began.

Project Outcomes

Operating as the primary independent Owner’s Engineer, PDP Energy successfully directed the extensive technical design reviews and field construction supervision for both utility assets. The project effectively established a highly accurate and transparent engineering framework that ensures maximum asset reliability and long-term structural integrity. By delivering synchronized and detailed multi-trade quality controls, PDP Energy cleared the path for the secure deployment of the two 25 MW power assets, significantly boosting regional power generation capacity for Sonabel and providing a stable, high-performance electricity supply to support economic growth across Burkina Faso.

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Zouk & Jiyeh 180 MW & 80 MW Power Plants

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Project Details

NameYearLocationClientTypeDescriptionScope
Zouk & Jiyeh 180 MW & 80 MW Power Plants2017Zouk & Jiyeh, LebanonElectricite du Liban (EDL)Power PlantTwo greenfield HFO power plants based on MAN engines equipped with HRSG steam turbinesAssisted client in supervising the main contractor during the commissioning phase

Project Background & Objectives

The Zouk & Jiyeh 180 MW & 80 MW Power Plants project was initiated to build high-capacity, highly efficient utility generation solutions to critically reinforce the national electrical grid infrastructure in Zouk & Jiyeh, Lebanon. Commissioned directly by the state utility Electricite du Liban (EDL), this mega-scale energy development focused on the construction of two greenfield HFO power plants based on MAN engines equipped with HRSG steam turbines to supply maximum baseload capacity. Within this highly sophisticated combined-cycle utility framework, PDP Energy was selected to protect the state utility’s interests and ensure technical excellence. The primary company-specific objectives centered on fulfilling a critical advisory and oversight role, where the engineering team successfully assisted the client in supervising the main contractor during the commissioning phase.

Project Challenges

Overseeing the final testing and commissioning phase simultaneously across two high-capacity power plants (180 MW and 80 MW) introduces extreme mechanical, thermal, and electrical orchestration challenges. Utilizing massive MAN heavy fuel oil (HFO) engines integrated with secondary Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) steam turbines demands meticulous synchronization to ensure optimal combined-cycle thermodynamic efficiencies. PDP Energy had to navigate intense supervisory hurdles, including auditing complex multi-disciplinary contractor testing protocols under tight regulatory schedules. On the automation and electrical side, validating performance parameters required rigorous quality control over rapid automatic load-sharing loops, transient grid stability interfaces, and centralized protective relay schemes to guarantee the massive multi-engine complexes could safely feed power into EDL’s grid without triggering system faults or cascading regional blackouts.

Project Outcomes

Operating as the primary independent technical advisor and commissioning supervisor, PDP Energy successfully directed the comprehensive contractor oversight and system validation services for both utility assets. The project effectively established an elite, highly reliable engineering framework that ensured maximum plant uptime and verified complete adherence to international generation standards. By providing rigorous, multi-disciplinary technical audits during the final startup sequences, PDP Energy cleared a secure path for EDL to safely commercialize the Zouk and Jiyeh facilities, adding a combined 260 MW of highly stable, high-efficiency electricity to the national infrastructure and significantly minimizing regional power deficits across Lebanon.

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