WHAT DOES AN ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER DO?

Updated: Jun 02, 2025 - The Energy Project Manager conducts field energy audits, develops energy system models, and prepares ASHRAE Level audit reports while assessing the feasibility of renewable energy projects like solar PV, battery storage, and wind energy. This position manages commercial PV project cycles, oversees installation progress, and ensures compliance with contractual obligations and milestones. The project manager provides technical leadership, identifies energy efficiency opportunities, and delivers education on utility management and carbon reduction strategies.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Energy Project Manager

1. Energy Project Manager Functions

  • Negotiation and Agreement: Draft, negotiate, and agree to heads of terms and options and lease agreements.
  • Investment Analysis: Complete detailed investment appraisals, due diligence, and valuations.
  • Brokerage Opportunities: Identify and deliver/refer/execute brokerage opportunities.
  • Consultancy and Project Management: Develop contacts, sites, and schemes and undertake professional consultancy and project management work.
  • Project Coordination: Attend project meetings and site visits.
  • Consultant and Stakeholder Management: Take responsibility for project managing external consultants, developers, and stakeholder liaisons.
  • Content Creation: Draft press articles, publications, newsletters, and research documents.
  • Business Development: Attend industry shows and events to promote and develop business.
  • Public Speaking: Public speaking, including seminars, conferences, and exhibitions.
  • Stakeholder Liaison: Liaise with internal stakeholders across commercial, planning, and development.

2. New Energy Project Manager Overview

  • Work Organization: Organize and distribute the work according to the needs of internal and external partners (3D, Chassis Analysis, ECS).
  • Team Planning: Plan the work of the team and update the production schedule.
  • Time Estimation: Estimate the study time and delivery of vehicle data.
  • Performance Management: Manage, analyze, and evaluate the performance of the team (KPI management).
  • Technical Support: Provide technical support to the team and seek information from partners if necessary (ECS and EMS).
  • Customer Support: Technically support customers during workshops and additional requests.
  • Process Enforcement: Enforce the current process (production and safety) and support the team for the implementation of new processes.
  • Problem Escalation: Escalate information and problems to the Process Leader.
  • Vehicle Study Review: Review the highlights during the study of a vehicle and write a summary.
  • Task Completion: Accept and complete other work arrangements from the direct supervisor.

3. Energy Project Manager Tasks

  • Project Management: Perform Project Management tasks to ensure that projects are delivered within the agreed-upon cost, quality, schedule, and profit.
  • Construction Management: Perform construction management of energy projects from procurement through closeout.
  • Grant and Incentive Management: Identify related grant and incentive opportunities, and manage application and funding requests.
  • Client Interface: Interface with clients on schedules, meetings, and issues (manage client expectations).
  • Project Reporting: Advise senior management of the project status regularly.
  • Client Relationship Management: Develop new, and manage existing, client relationships through client marketing and project interactions, and identify new sales opportunities with clients.
  • Site Screening: Take responsibility for the screening of potential energy development sites.
  • Grid Connection Management: Preparation, submission, and management of grid connection applications, and liaison with the Distribution Network Operators and the National Grid to secure favorable grid connections.
  • Budget and Payment Negotiation: Advising clients on the outcomes of budget and firm grid connection offers, and negotiating payment.

4. Energy Project Manager Roles

  • Relationship Building: Develop quality, positive relationships with the customer.
  • Team Management: Managing the workload of a multi-discipline team of engineers to ensure projects are delivered within budget and timescale targets, to the correct quality.
  • Opportunity Development: Develop opportunities from the prospect stage, via pre-qualifications and tenders, to successful contract awards, project execution, and satisfied customers.
  • Financial Management: Be responsible for the Management and Reporting of Project Financials.
  • KPI Management: Take responsibility for the ownership of Project KPIs.
  • Fieldwork Coordination: Coordinate, conduct, and/or lead fieldwork.
  • Quality and Safety Management: Ensure QA/QC and Health and Safety requirements and procedures are identified and followed throughout a project's life cycle.
  • Staff Development: Provide staff mentorship and training.
  • Feasibility Studies: Complete and/or review screening and feasibility studies reporting on site suitability.
  • Planning Application Management: Prepare, submit, and/or review planning applications, including liaison with Planning Officers and consultants, and drafting of supporting statements.

5. Energy Project Manager Responsibilities

  • Energy Auditing: Perform field energy audits, run energy system models, and develop ASHRAE Level audit reports.
  • Feasibility Studies: Perform renewable energy (Solar PV, battery storage, fuel cells, wind energy) feasibility studies.
  • Project Management: Manage the project cycle for commercial PV Projects and oversee all field teams and installation progress.
  • Client Communication: Communicate with clients on contractual obligations, schedules, and milestones.
  • Carbon Neutrality Assessment: Collaborate with climate team members to perform Carbon Neutrality Assessments.
  • Technical Leadership: Provide energy technical leadership and oversight across all projects.
  • Energy Efficiency Development: Assist with the development of energy efficiency measures and equipment replacement prioritizing based on equipment efficiency and current client operations.
  • Client Education: Provide education to Owner-client staff on utility management and energy/carbon reduction pathways and strategies.
  • Opportunity Identification: Identify and provide documentation for energy efficiency project opportunities contributing to Building or campus carbon emission reduction.
  • Data Analysis: Collect and analyze utility data, track utility interventions, calculate, document, and report savings.
Relevant Information
What Does An Energy Analyst Do?
What Does An Energy Engineer Do?