How Automation, AI and a Global Workforce have Changed Renewable Energy Development-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Engineering Forever

In the illustrious words of Albert Einstein, "we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Cleantech Industry Resources (CIR) wholeheartedly embraces this wisdom as it commoditizes renewable energy project development and engineering as a service through automation and AI leveraging a global team. Acknowledging the buzz around CIR, including sceptics and doubters, the company takes pride in pioneering the full commoditization of a Development-as-a-Service (DaaS) model for the first time. Climate change is a global problem, it deserves a global, tech-enabled solution. We as a species are facing this challenge together.

This article systematically emphasizes CIR's prowess in renewable energy engineering, shedding light on the company's adept management of the continuously evolving challenges in workforce development while maintaining a transparent, no-change order pricing strategy.

1.???? Specialization and Expertise: Some claim that lower-cost firms lack specialization, fail to adhere to industry standards, and lack expertise in renewable energy engineering.

-??????? Highly Qualified and Diverse Team: Each CIR engineer possesses specialized college degrees, with a majority holding master's degrees (including Masters, Solar Electrical Engineering), ensuring a robust foundation and advanced knowledge. The CIR team comprises structural, civil, and electrical engineers, project managers, lawyers, project developers, cost estimators, procurement analysts, estimators, and finance associates, ensuring a diverse skill set covering all essential aspects of renewable energy engineering and project development.

-??????? Dedicated Focus: CIR is focused on solar, wind, battery storage, and EV charging systems. CIR’s head of engineering hails from Adani, often ranked a global top-three solar power producer, and Black & Veatch. The current CIR team have vetted over 3,200 projects across the US and engineered, developed, and delivered 4.2GW of US solar projects, while supporting over 7GW of projects globally.

2.???? Robust Communication: Competitors claim that choosing a global team introduces communication barriers and delays.

CIR's Response: Do those competitor’s teams execute over a 24-hour workday? CIR has team members in the US and India that revel in advancing projects around the clock. Continuous connectivity across time zones, linguistic proficiency and a fully integrated CRM with various collaboration tools debunk the notion of communication challenges.

-??????? Continuous Connectivity Across Time Zones: CIR maintains constant communication globally ensuring 24/7 operational coverage and efficient project management. Operating on a 24-hour schedule with two shifts enables constant availability, overcoming time zone differences and facilitating agile project management. Each customer receives access to our CRM directly, to track projects in real time where they can interact directly with their engineers, PMs, developers, etc. always, all the time.

-??????? Linguistic Proficiency and Regular Client Interactions: The India-based team's proficiency in English ensures clear articulation of ideas and effective communication, actively engaging with US-based customers daily. Every customer is allocated to a dedicated Program Manager to facilitate communication, scheduling, and prioritization.

-??????? Efficient Processes and Streamlined Communication Approach: CIR employs a streamlined approach to communication, leveraging technology and efficient processes for accessibility and comprehensibility of information. Utilizing collaborative tools enhances the efficiency of communication, making information easily accessible to all customers irrespective of their geographic location.

3.???? Advanced Automation and QAQC Processes: Competitors claim that inferior quality drawings and reports lead to installation errors and permit approval delays.

CIR's Response: CIR is recognized for delivering high-quality, comprehensive construction drawings, ensuring faster approvals, and minimizing errors during installation. Expertise, rigorous checks, adherence to local codes, and a tech-forward approach with continuous improvement overcome concerns about the quality of work. One customer recently noted that “your 10% engineering package is equivalent to [US competitor’s] 30% packages…”

-??????? Quality Assurance and Industry Compliance: CIR maintains a stringent quality assurance process, ensuring accuracy and adherence to industry standards. Rigorous, multi-level checks and client collaboration contribute to high-quality documents. CIR thrives on regular client interactions because this allows for feedback integration, ensuring that documentation not only meets industry standards but also aligns with client preferences. The team possesses an in-depth knowledge of both local and national code, ensuring that drawings and reports align with specific project requirements.

-??????? Expertise and Specialization: CIR's specialized teams in solar, wind, storage and EV infrastructure engineering ensures the production of detailed and accurate documentation, demonstrating a deep understanding of associated intricacies.

-??????? Tech-Forward Approach: Embracing a tech-forward vision, CIR invests in all leading software, continuous training programs, and a commitment to innovation, contributing to ongoing optimization. Team members include specialists in every advanced related software platform available.

4.???? Low Costs Do Not Equate to Junk Deliverables: Competitors claim that global firms offering short-term cost-saving measures may seem attractive but often lead to escalated expenses, extended timelines, and a strain on valuable resources.

CIR's Response: Challenging the assumption that low costs equate to escalated expenses, CIR operates on a development-as-a-service model, emphasizing long-term efficiency and effectiveness. Holistic project management, avoidance of costly change orders, faster project advancement, and transparent pricing strategies showcase our commitment to strategic cost-effectiveness.

-??????? Development-as-a-Service Model: CIR operates on a strategic development-as-a-service model, prioritizing long-term efficiency and effectiveness over immediate financial gains. The development-as-a-service approach encompasses the entire project lifecycle, ensuring a holistic and integrated strategy that addresses potential challenges before they become costly issues.

-??????? Avoidance of Costly Change Orders: CIR's proactive problem resolution and low-cost structure allows for costly changes to be avoided, supported by open client, AHJ, utility and stakeholder collaboration.

-??????? Faster Project Advancement: Efficient decision-making and risk mitigation contribute to streamlined timelines, all while integrating technology and automation for ongoing improvement.

Transparent, No-Change Order Pricing

CIR maintains full transparency of its pricing for full systems engineering of projects of all sizes. Even before the change-order costs commonly incurred by US firms, CIR’s pricing tends to be 70% lower. CIR has never issued a change order for module updates, inverter changes, system size adjustments or other systems engineering package updates. In the industry, we all know many engineering and development service firms “make their money on change-orders.” At CIR we don’t believe customers should be bait-and-switched, and through automation and leveraging a highly skilled global team, we provide fixed pricing our customers can rely on for development and engineering budgeting.

Navigating Workforce Challenges in Renewable Energy

Amid ongoing challenges, CIR is positioning itself as a leader in the renewable energy engineering sector. Emphasizing equity, quality and agility in its workforce strategies, CIR aims to overcome the workforce bottlenecks our customers experience in 2024 and beyond. Every CIR employee has an equity interest in the company’s performance, from entry-level forward. Through initiatives like upskilling existing workforces, creating purposeful jobs with portable skills, assessing skills gaps, and collaborating with a diverse ecosystem of partners across the world, CIR stands at the forefront of reshaping the renewable energy workforce, where excellence, efficiency, and innovation converge.

The wave of change is upon us, and the laws of inertia favor CIR. Embracing the paradigm shift empowers businesses to navigate challenges, optimize costs, and drive innovation, contributing to a sustainable and efficient operational future.

For any questions, please reach out to CIR's Chief Strategy Officer - Darren Wyatt