Notes and small tools
Energy project delivery
Mostly preconstruction, constructability, contracts, packages, cost and schedule—written from the questions that come up while doing the work.
Showing 25 project notes
All project notes
25PreconstructionInteractive evidence gate
August 202611 min read + evidence gate
The question
What decision does the available ground evidence actually support?
ConstructabilityInteractive screen
August 20264 min read + interactive screen
The question
Can the delivery vehicle use the route shown on the drawing?
The question
Which enabling condition must become a controlled programme gate?
Contracts & PackagesOne-page decision sheet
August 20266 min read
The question
Does the owner have the capability to retain the material interface?
The question
Time management starts on the drawing board — not when you open Primavera. How sequential vs parallel design predetermines your schedule's resilience, with real examples from solar farms and wind projects. Based on the CIOB Guide to Good Practice.
Solar + BESSField note
March 202620 min read
The question
It costs $0.124/Wp to make a solar panel in Vietnam using Chinese cells. It costs $0.284/Wp to make the same panel in Germany. An interactive deep-dive into IRENA's 2026 supply chain cost data — polysilicon to module, 6 countries, 4 import scenarios.
The question
The most important technology in energy isn't solar — it's what happens when the sun goes down. A PM's breakdown of how battery storage is reshaping the grid, from the duck curve to virtual power plants.
PreconstructionField note
March 202612 min read
The question
Over 2,600 GW of clean energy projects are stuck in US interconnection queues — more than double current installed capacity. A PM's guide to navigating the biggest bottleneck in the energy transition.
PreconstructionField note
March 20268 min read
The question
A field engineer's honest take on how digital twins are transforming energy infrastructure. From solar farms to BESS to offshore wind -- what works, what doesn't, and why every PM should care.
Solar + BESSField note
February 202610 min read
The question
Solar at $35/MWh. Batteries down 45% in one year. A PM's honest comparison of solar+BESS vs nuclear, onshore wind, and offshore wind -- with real numbers from Lazard, BloombergNEF, and the IEA.
The question
Explore the complete offshore wind farm ecosystem through an interactive visualization. From floating turbines in deep waters to grid connections on shore, discover how these engineering marvels harness ocean winds to generate clean electricity.
Contracts & PackagesField note
August 202525 min read
The question
A detailed and interactive guide to integrating Free Issue Material (FIM) strategy for optimal procurement in renewable energy projects, covering workshops, procurement structure, team organization, and business case.
The question
Where do I even start? The most common question from our first RE workshop. Technology deep dives, Vietnam market context, career implications, and 5 things I wish I'd known before my first project.
Cost & ScheduleField note
December 202415 min read
The question
An interactive analysis of the latest cost trends in renewable energy technologies based on IRENA's comprehensive 2024 report. Explore how Solar PV achieved 90% cost reduction, making it one of the most competitive renewable technologies.
The question
The most expensive estimate isn't the highest one — it's the lowest one that turns out to be wrong. A PM's guide to estimation methods, cost components, and the mistakes that blow budgets in renewable energy.
The question
A detailed work breakdown structure (WBS) for offshore wind farm projects, covering every phase from development through commissioning and operations.
PreconstructionField note
December 202420 min read
The question
Three types of RE developers — the overextended, the over-analytical, and the disciplined. A PM's complete playbook with PESTEL analysis, LCOE benchmarks, financing strategy, and adaptive management.
ConstructabilityField note
November 202415 min read
The question
Nearshore wind construction is a logistics war fought against tides, weather, and bureaucracy. Hard-won lessons from Vietnam's 4.6 GW wind rush — from barge problems to commissioning stakeholder management.
Contracts & PackagesField note
November 202414 min read
The question
The biggest risk in multi-package offshore wind isn't technical — it's organizational. A PM's guide to RACI matrices, interface management, and the coordination failures that kill projects.
The question
11 risk categories that kill offshore wind projects — with quantified examples, probability-impact matrices, and the PM lessons from projects that got risk management right and wrong.
The question
Survey costs represent 1-3% of project CAPEX but drive 30-40% of total cost through design decisions. A PM's breakdown of wind measurement, metocean, geophysical, and geotechnical campaigns — with real cost data.
Wind + FPVField note
August 202425 min read
The question
The most comprehensive guide to offshore wind farm development. Covers every phase from site selection and environmental assessment through construction, commissioning, and long-term operations.
Contracts & PackagesField note
August 202416 min read
The question
EPC vs multi-package: the most consequential decision after site selection. A PM's comparison of 4 contract structures with FIDIC deep-dive, cost benchmarks, and real-world lessons from interface failures.
The question
When a 70-meter blade meets a village road corner — the underestimated risk that controls wind project schedules. Real cost data, route planning lessons, and the PM's playbook for Vietnam.
ConstructabilityField note
July 202416 min read
The question
Why pile cap beats monopile in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. A site-specific analysis of foundation selection with real soil data, cost comparisons, and lessons from the field.