Performance Engineer at AltGen South Africa

Role

• AltGen is looking for a skilled Performance Engineer to join a CSP plant in the Northern Cape. The role will report to the Technical Manager and the CEO and will be based in Pofadder. The role is responsible for monitoring, analysing, and improving plant performance and production in line with the approved performance model, business case, and contractual requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Calculate, model, analyse, monitor and report on the performance and production of the facility against the performance model and the business case
• Consider the impact of equipment unavailability at an aggregate level and allocate accordingly, where practical
• Calculate daily losses not necessarily reflected (e.g. TES Management, etc.)
• In conjunction with the O&M, review the daily actions and reports pertaining to the operation of the facility.
• Analyse daily performance and production of the plant and discuss and report findings with the relevant project stakeholders, e.g. O&M, Internal Management
• Follow the status of the plant and any risks, including equipment unavailable or at risk that may impact performance and production, e.g. solar field status, main equipment status, critical auxiliary equipment, etc.
• Analyse the performance of the Facility to identify any gaps where production and performance can be improved.
• Compare daily production to what could have been produced, provide feedback to the Operator and the Contractor’s Control Room Operators to avoid similar situations.
• Assist the Operator to ensure that the Facility’s performance is at its optimal level.
• Share any relevant documentation/ tools relevant to the Services that will assist the Operator in efficient and relevant performance monitoring.
• Periodic performance reporting of critical plant assets
• Data management of key plant indicators and operational parameters. Custodian of Data Quality and reliability
• Ensure that efficiency and availability targets are effectively communicated and achieved
• Follow up and reconcile O&M performance
• Support with liaising and reporting to the Lenders Technical Advisor (LTA) and other stakeholders on performance-related matters
• Provide information and support to the Technical Manager in correspondence with the O&M
• Provide technical support internally with respect to warranty, technical queries, performance/production impacts, etc.
• Follow the status of the plant and any risks, including equipment unavailable or at risk that may impact performance and production, e.g. solar field status, main equipment status, critical auxiliary equipment, etc.
• Provide instructions/recommendations based on the actual Facility component/system/equipment availability/condition to ensure optimal operation of the Facility.
• Inspect the operator systems of the Facility to detect anomalies which could lead to production losses or performance issues of the Facility.
• Conduct a site walkdown to detect anomalies and areas of improvement
• Follow-up on the O&M obligations and Owner commitments
• Conduct tests and inspections to determine the efficiency of power plant/substation equipment
• Provide guidance and input, and as required, take the lead to resolve complicated and critical performance and engineering-related issues
• Proactively identify improvement projects to increase plant efficiency, availability, reliability and safety
• Conduct feasibility studies, conceptual designs, and detailed designs for any projects identified or assigned
• Project manage and/or perform a project engineering role in the implementation of improvement projects
• Conduct design reviews as and when necessary
• Contribute to the risks and opportunities identification and mitigation

Requirements

• Tertiary qualification in Mechanical or Process Engineering
• At least 2 years of experience in a Performance Engineering role within thermal or CSP power generation
• Registration with ECSA as a Professional Engineer is a plus
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the power generation industry