Less Risk, Faster Results: The Project Management Advantage Driving Our Utility-Scale Success

Delivering a successful utility-scale solar project takes more than solid engineering. It also requires flawless project management that makes it easy for EPCs and developers to stay on top of each new update, with quick access to any information they need.

That’s why Castillo Engineering has invested in two purpose-built software solutions that optimize every phase of a project, from pre-design to close-out: PMO 360™ and Design IQ™.

Why We’re Passionate about Project Management: Minimized Delays and Maximized ROI

Solar developers and EPCs know the cost of delays, design changes, and regulatory surprises all too well. The earlier you can identify potential issues, the faster you can adapt and keep the budget and schedule on track.

Common project pitfalls include:

• Challenging topography that demands customized layouts and component selection

• Schedule risks tied to Engineer of Record turnaround time, which can trigger penalties from off-takers

• Design flaws or rework due to communication breakdowns

• Regulatory issues caused by inefficient documentation and limited visibility

That’s why our founder, Rick Castillo, has focused on project management since he founded the company in 1998. Unlike many Engineer-of-Record (EOR) firms, we have a team of specialized project managers certified by the Project Management Institute.

Rick now leads our Project Management Office and has developed a software platform built to anticipate and prevent such problems, so developers aren’t left course-correcting after the fact. With streamlined design processes and real-time transparency, our systems help projects meet Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) targets while staying on schedule and budget.

PMO 360™: 24/7 Clarity and Transparency for Clients

PMO 360™ is Castillo’s proprietary project management dashboard designed according to gold-standard PMP® principles and created for the speed and complexity of utility-scale solar. This portal gives our clients complete visibility into project statuses, timelines, expected delivery dates, pending actions, and more. EPCs and developers get a 360-degree view of the project and instant access to the metrics that matter, including:

• Due diligence dependencies

• Updated timelines and key milestones

• Document tracking and approval workflows

• Issue resolution tracking

• Real-time email communications

• Full project history in one centralized hub

These features provide our clients:

• Real-time information and project status

• Greater predictability to ensure on-time completion

• More effective project management communications

• Ability to troubleshoot issues before they arise

With PMO 360™, Castillo project managers and teams provide our EPC and developer partners with even smoother collaboration and more transparency, resulting in faster decision-making and fewer costly surprises.

Design IQ™: Smarter Design for Faster Execution

While demand for utility-scale solar has grown massively in the last few years, EOR firms with the specific skills and experience to reliably design such projects remain relatively few and far between. To expand our engineering team’s capacity while maintaining the same high quality we’ve always prided ourselves on, we’ve developed our exclusive machine-learning program, Design IQ™.

Design IQ™ is Castillo’s internal design optimization tool that collects engineering-related project information and records in one easy-to-access portal, automates repetitive tasks, and standardizes best practices. In addition to facilitating smooth project execution, the software empowers engineers to work at their highest level, enabling them to:

• Respond to client needs more quickly

• Speed time to completion by optimizing workflow, recalibrating quickly, and scaling efficiently

• Automate repetitive tasks and data entry, reducing the potential for human error

• Leverages historical data from past projects  and Castillo's institutional knowledge into actionable and time-saving recommendations

• Optimize electrical, structural, civil and substation designs for utility-scale projects

• As the need for utility-scale solar engineering grows, Design IQ empowers our engineers to scale along with it and meet that need.

Built for What’s Next

Utility-scale solar is scaling fast. That means engineering partners must be just as fast—without sacrificing quality. With PMO 360™ and Design IQ™, Castillo Engineering helps clients navigate complexity and meet demand with precision, transparency, and peace of mind.

Let’s build something better, together.

Interested in optimizing your utility-scale solar project with process-driven engineering and platforms? Get in touch with a technical expert at Castillo Engineering to find out more about our services & specialties.