Get the yield wrong and the risks are serious: a plant that earns less than promised, loan terms you cannot meet, disputes with buyers, a design that wastes money or a project that never reaches financial close. That means lost revenue, unhappy lenders and a plant that never performs to plan.
USP&E Helps You Build a Yield You Can Bank On
We know you need a yield figure that stands up to lenders and to the real weather at your site. USP&E has delivered 150+ power projects in 45+ countries, with 25,000 MW contracted since 2002, and our engineers and project managers design, build and support solar, hybrid and gas plants for utilities, industry, mines and data centres. Our systems are ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified. USP&E is a full-service EPC and O&M contractor, not a broker.
You do not need to be a solar modeller. You need good site weather data, a clear list of losses, a design that matches the model and yield figures at different confidence levels that your lenders understand.
Start with Good Irradiance Data
The energy yield assessment starts with the solar resource at your site: how much sunlight reaches the panels each year. Data comes from satellite records, nearby weather stations and, for larger projects, on-site measurement. Long records give a better picture of the average year and of how much years vary.
Check the source, length and quality of the data. Satellite data covers long periods but can miss local effects such as dust, haze or nearby hills. On-site measurement adds accuracy but needs time. Many projects combine both, using on-site data to correct the long-term satellite record.
Record temperature and wind too, because hot panels produce less power. Dusty sites need data on soiling and cleaning. These details make a real difference to your yield, and they shape the design of firmed solar systems that add batteries or generation.
Model the Losses Between Sunlight and Grid
Not all sunlight becomes energy you can sell. The model must account for losses at every step: shading, soiling, panel temperature, panel quality and mismatch, cable losses, inverter losses, transformer losses, downtime and the slow decline of panels over time. Each loss is small, but together they add up.
Make sure the model uses your real design: the panel and inverter models, the layout, the tilt or tracking system and the grid connection limit. If the design changes later, update the model. A yield based on a design you no longer plan to build is of little use to your lenders.
Watch for curtailment, where the grid cannot take all the power you produce. Check grid limits and local rules, and include likely curtailment in the model. Our sister site covers renewable EPC delivery and the handover that follows construction.
Read P50 and P90 and Plan Firm Power
Yield assessments give figures at different confidence levels. P50 is the yield your plant should exceed in half of years. P90 is a lower figure it should exceed in nine years out of ten. Lenders often size debt on P90 or a similar level, so the gap between P50 and P90 matters to your financing.
Reduce uncertainty where you can, with better data, an independent review and a clear design. Lower uncertainty narrows the gap and can improve loan terms. After commissioning, compare actual output with the model and investigate any shortfall early.
Solar varies with the weather, so many sites add firm power. Options include gas turbine firming plants, gas turbine generators, used/new gas turbines, a remanufactured GE Frame 6B and natural gas engines/stations. Teams doing hyperscale EPC/O&M work pair solar with AI gas turbines, hyperscale generators and gas turbines for compute, including the New USP&E FX-45 45MW Modular Gas Turbine for the Hyperscale Data Center sector in the USA.
Global Offices Behind Your Solar EPC Programme
Your team wants answers in its own time zone. USP&E’s offices in Colorado Springs (1755 Telstar Dr, Suite 300) and Knoxville (800 S Gay St, Suite 700) lead your solar EPC and gas firming project conversations in the US, from the first data request to the site visit, so questions about fuel, interconnection and delivery are answered by people who can be on site.
The wider network carries the heavy lifting for PV blocks, natural gas engine firming and GT bridges: London (162-168 Regent Street) for structuring and finance, Johannesburg (22 Kildoon Rd, Bryanston) for engineering and project controls, Cape Town (31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock) for design and commissioning support, and Wuxi, China (No. 1, Ningzhou Road, Wuxi) for China supply chain and manufacturing.
For solar yield work, Colorado Springs and Knoxville engineers review data, losses and designs for US projects, while Johannesburg and Cape Town support projects across Africa. Regions served: USA | AFRICA | UK | UAE | CHINA. USP&E’s reach covers 150+ power projects in 45+ countries and 25,000 MW contracted since 2002, and the company is ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified.
USP&E Track Record for Solar EPC
You want proof that USP&E can deliver power plants that perform. These projects show that record.
- USP&E has refurbished seven GE Frame 6B gas turbines to zero hours in-house for major US hyperscale data-centre developers.
- NEOM, Saudi Arabia: USP&E supplied three zero-hour Siemens SGT-400 gas turbines as the single technical and commercial interface, and the client reported savings of over $10 million. Read the case study.
- A gold mine in Mauritania: USP&E supplied and installed a Caterpillar backup power station of low-hour Cat 3516B gensets with new switchgear, on time and on budget. Read the case study.
HowTo: Run an Energy Yield Assessment for a Solar and GT Plant
Your 3-step plan: 1. Share your site location, weather data and draft design. 2. Receive a yield review with losses and risks marked. 3. Design, build and firm your plant with one team.
- Collect long-term weather data for the site from reliable sources.
- Model the plant layout, equipment and every loss step.
- Set out uncertainty and the range of likely yields.
- Use the yield range to size gas turbine firming and fuel needs.
- Have the assessment reviewed independently.
- Update the model with real data after the plant starts.
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FAQ: Solar EPC Energy Yield Assessment with GT
What is a solar energy yield assessment?
USP&E describes the energy yield assessment as the estimate of how much energy a solar plant will produce each year. It combines site irradiance data, the plant design and a full list of losses, and lenders and investors use it to judge revenue and size debt.
Where does irradiance data come from?
USP&E uses irradiance data from satellite records, nearby weather stations and, for larger projects, on-site measurement. Satellite data covers long periods, while on-site data adds local accuracy, and many projects combine both to build a reliable long-term picture of the site.
What losses does a solar yield model include?
USP&E models shading, soiling, panel temperature, panel quality and mismatch, cable, inverter and transformer losses, downtime, panel decline over time and likely curtailment. Each loss is small, but together they make a large difference between sunlight received and energy sold.
What is the difference between P50 and P90 yield?
USP&E explains that P50 is the yield a solar plant should exceed in half of years, while P90 is a lower figure it should exceed in nine years out of ten. Lenders often size debt on P90, so a narrower gap can improve your financing terms.
Where are USP&E’s offices for solar EPC projects?
USP&E supports solar EPC projects from Colorado Springs and Knoxville for US sites, with engineers who review yield models and designs. Johannesburg and Cape Town support projects across Africa, London covers contracts and finance, and Wuxi supports equipment and parts made in China.
Has USP&E delivered power plant projects before?
USP&E has refurbished seven GE Frame 6B gas turbines to zero hours in-house for major US hyperscale data-centre developers. Public case studies include a gold mine power station in Mali, where Caterpillar engines were rebuilt and new zero-hour capacity was added to lift reliability.
Is USP&E a broker for solar EPC services?
USP&E is not a broker. USP&E designs, builds and supports power plants with its own engineers, so the team that reviews your yield model is the same team that understands the design, builds the plant and stays accountable for its output.
How fast can USP&E review a solar yield assessment?
USP&E can review your site location, weather data and draft design as soon as you share them. Engineers mark weak data, missing losses and design gaps first, so you can strengthen the yield figures before you present them to lenders or investors.
A Yield Figure You Can Trust
Build your yield on good data and a real design and your project wins funding and performs to plan. Rely on weak assumptions and your revenue falls short for years. USP&E will help you assess, build and firm your plant with confidence.
Request a fast quote for your solar EPC and gas firming project on the USP&E contact page, call +27 10 822 2324 or email info@uspeglobal.com. Want to see what is available today? Search the USP&E inventory.
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