You need a hybrid plant where renewables and thermal generation are engineered together and run by one accountable team.
Hybrid Plants Engineered as One System
We design renewable plants with the firm capacity they need to be reliable. USP&E engineers, builds and operates solar, storage and thermal generation as a single hybrid system. USP&E is a full-service EPC and O&M contractor, not a broker.
Why Thermal Backup Matters
Solar output varies through the day and with weather, and storage covers only so many hours. For mines, industrial sites and campuses that need power around the clock, thermal generation provides the firm capacity that keeps the load running when renewable output falls.
The aim is to run thermal units as little as possible while guaranteeing supply. That needs careful sizing of each element and a control system that dispatches them in the right order.
Designing the Hybrid Plant
USP&E models your load against solar resource, storage capacity and thermal options to find the mix that meets reliability targets at the lowest lifetime cost. Thermal backup can be diesel, gas engines or gas turbines depending on fuel availability and plant size; for larger sites, see gas turbines for renewable firming.
A hybrid controller coordinates everything: dispatching solar first, using storage to smooth and shift energy, and starting thermal units when needed. Grid code, ramp rate and reactive power requirements are designed in from the start.
Building and Operating Hybrid Plants
EPC covers civil works, solar arrays, inverters, battery systems, thermal plant, switchgear and controls, commissioned as one plant. USP&E then operates and maintains it, tracking renewable share, fuel use and availability.
Solar-heavy projects can draw on our sister team for solar EPC delivery, and mining hybrids are also covered by hybrid power for African mining.
USP&E Offices for Renewable EPC
Colorado Springs (1755 Telstar Dr, Suite 300) and Knoxville (800 S Gay St, Suite 700) lead US work on renewable EPC with thermal backup, from site walk-downs to commissioning sign-off. Hybrid projects often start with a joint workshop between our Cape Town and Colorado Springs engineers. London (162-168 Regent Street) supports structuring and finance conversations, Johannesburg (22 Kildoon Rd, Bryanston) and Cape Town (31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock) carry African delivery, and Wuxi (No. 1, Ningzhou Road, Wuxi) covers China supply chain and manufacturing. Regions served: USA | AFRICA | UK | UAE | CHINA. USP&E has delivered 150+ power projects in 45+ countries, with 25,000 MW contracted since 2002, and is ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified.
Thermal and Hybrid Delivery Record
You want firm power you can trust. These projects show USP&E’s thermal and turbine capability behind every hybrid plant.
- 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. Read the case study.
- Kinross Gold, Mauritania: USP&E engineered and executed Caterpillar power station backup for a large-scale mining operation. Read the case study.
Your Plan
Your 3-step plan: 1. Share load profile, site and fuel options. 2. Receive a hybrid design with renewable share and backup sizing. 3. Build and operate it with USP&E.
- Profile load across day, night and seasons.
- Assess solar resource and land.
- Size storage and thermal backup.
- Design hybrid controls and grid interface.
- Build, commission and operate as one plant.
Resources
EPC · O&M · About USP&E · Case studies · Contact · Inventory · Power plant EPC.
FAQ: Renewable EPC with thermal backup
What is renewable EPC with thermal backup?
USP&E uses the term for hybrid plants where solar and storage are engineered together with diesel, gas engine or gas turbine generation. The thermal units provide firm capacity so the load stays powered when renewable output falls.
Why not rely on solar and batteries alone?
USP&E finds that for loads needing power around the clock, storage covers limited hours and solar varies with weather. Thermal backup guarantees supply while keeping fuel use as low as possible.
Which backup technology does USP&E use?
USP&E selects diesel, gas engines or gas turbines based on fuel availability, plant size and running hours. Larger hybrid plants often use gas turbines; smaller remote sites may use diesel.
What does the hybrid controller do?
USP&E’s hybrid control design dispatches solar first, uses storage to smooth and shift energy, and starts thermal units when needed, while meeting grid code, ramp rate and reactive power requirements.
Is USP&E a broker?
No. USP&E is a full-service EPC and O&M contractor, not a broker. We design, build and operate hybrid plants and remain accountable for their performance.
What thermal experience does USP&E bring?
USP&E has refurbished seven GE Frame 6B gas turbines to zero hours in-house for major US hyperscale data-centre developers and supplied three zero-hour Siemens SGT-400 units for NEOM, among 150+ power projects.
Which offices support renewable EPC?
USP&E supports renewable EPC from Colorado Springs and Knoxville in the USA, Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, London for finance and structuring, and Wuxi for China supply chain.
Does USP&E operate hybrid plants after EPC?
Yes. USP&E operates and maintains hybrid plants, tracking renewable share, fuel use and availability, so one company stays responsible for the plant’s performance.
Take the Next Step With USP&E
Success looks like renewable EPC with thermal backup that is scoped, delivered and running on your date. Failure looks like months lost to a seller who disappears after the invoice. Talk to USP&E at our contact page, call +27 10 822 2324 or email info@uspeglobal.com, and browse live stock on the USP&E inventory.
Powering Possibility. Built for the Frontier.