Project Feasibility and Technology Support

Our consultants bring unique expertise (and a technology- and vendor-neutral 3rd party perspective) to the evaluation of proposed renewable energy solutions for client’s facilities or properties.  Our consultants serve as the “owner’s engineer” by addressing specific renewable energy questions including: 

  • Analyzing the technical and economic feasibility/benefits of potential renewable energy technologies and applications;
  • Identifying permitting and regulatory requirements;
  • Researching, evaluating, and recommending financing approaches and mechanisms:
  • Providing strategic advice and support for the development, review, and selection of competitive solicitations for utility-owned renewable energy assets; 

Our Consulting Division has worked with utilities and power authorities in reviewing and selecting approaches to meet customer-sited clean energy goals.  These include direct rebates for customer-sited systems; utility procurement of systems for location on either the customer or the utility side of the meter; financing; and tariff supplements. VEIC can help utilities review these options based on factors such as: (1) other corporate strategic objectives, (2) market and  industry development, (3) maturity within the service territory, and (4) compatibility with other state, regional, and federal incentives and programs. VEIC’s assistance with project and portfolio design spans the full range of services – from incentive design to the details of database and process management - including application forms, customer correspondence templates, and marketing and customer outreach materials.

The recently modified federal investment tax credit provides new opportunities for utilities to consider direct ownership of certain renewable assets.  A variety of structural models exist for utility procurement of systems. Our consultants can provide strategic advice and support around competitive solicitations for utility-owned assets, including:

  • Preparation of Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals;
  • Identification of appropriate industries and companies for RFQ/RFP distribution;
  • Creation of screening criteria for proposal reviews.;
  • Participation in the proposal review process;
  • Development of contracts, work scopes and budgets.

We can assist an energy agency, utility, or power authority in the assessment of the technical and market potential for customer sited PV, solar hot water, wind, and/or biomass energy.  VEIC has completed multiple market assessments for utility and other public- and private-sector clients, and has an efficient and proven methodology for doing so.  Our consultants have in depth knowledge of the customer economics of renewable energy solutions – information critical to both project-level decision-making, and utility-level program and portfolio design.  VEIC’s customer economics model takes into account the variety of financial incentives currently in place to support renewable market growth including tax credits, direct incentive buy downs, solar renewable energy credits, and feed-in tariffs/tariff adders.