Diagnose and decide

Review solar and storage decisions before procurement or detailed design.

The PV/BESS Decision Brief provides an independent view of the intended use case, evidence, assumptions, proposal logic, constraints and risks behind a solar PV, battery storage or combined investment decision.

When this service is useful

Use the review when the decision needs clearer evidence.

A client has received one or more PV or battery proposals and needs an independent review.
The organization is unclear whether the priority is bill reduction, peak management, resilience, renewable utilization or backup.
Sizing, tariff, degradation, operating or financial assumptions require challenge before approval.
Internal stakeholders need a common comparison framework before tendering or vendor selection.
A concept needs a clearer feasibility path before engaging licensed designers or implementation partners.

What NEI reviews

Evidence, assumptions and decision context.

Site, load, tariff and operating context.
Defined PV and battery use cases and available load profiles.
Proposed capacities, configurations and operating assumptions.
Battery dispatch, degradation, warranty and replacement assumptions.
Proposal exclusions, dependencies, performance claims and material uncertainties.

Information requested

Start with the minimum useful evidence.

Data limitations are recorded explicitly and used to shape proportionate next steps.

Recent electricity bills and tariff information.
Interval load data where available.
Site, roof or land information and critical-load requirements.
Existing vendor proposals, studies or quotations.
Decision criteria, budget constraints, target timing and known grid or safety constraints.

Client deliverables

Clear outputs for the next decision.

Use-case definition

A clear statement of what the PV, battery or combined system is expected to achieve.

Assumption review

A structured challenge of sizing, load, tariff, generation, dispatch and commercial assumptions.

Option comparison

A decision-oriented comparison of credible pathways, including deferral or further evidence.

Risk and information-gap register

Issues that could materially change the technical, operational or commercial conclusion.

Decision recommendation

The next decision, required validation and route to feasibility, design or procurement.

Decision method and evidence

Make the use case, dispatch and exclusions visible.

A battery is not a business case. The review connects the required service to representative data, operating logic, constraints and commercial assumptions.

Decision questions answered

Is the proposed use case technically and commercially coherent?
Do load, tariff and solar assumptions represent the decision period?
Does sizing and dispatch logic match the required service?
Which exclusions or sensitivities could change the recommendation?
Is the next step more data, a revised proposal, a pilot or detailed engineering?

Minimum decision inputs

Interval load and seasonality; tariff structure; PV generation basis; outage or resilience needs; interconnection and site constraints; usable power and energy; efficiency; degradation; operating strategy; replacement assumptions; costs; financing basis; and proposal exclusions.

Read the PV/BESS decision guide →

Evidence base

NEI’s use-case-first review is informed by the IRENA Electricity Storage Valuation Framework, the U.S. Department of Energy storage-modeling review, NREL System Advisor Model battery resources and the IEA batteries report. These references provide analytical context; site conclusions depend on project evidence.

Engagement sequence

Five focused steps.

Frame the investment decision and intended use case.
Review client data, proposals and assumptions.
Compare credible options and material risks.
Identify evidence and licensed-work dependencies.
Deliver the decision brief and review meeting.

Scope boundary

Unless separately scoped with qualified partners, the brief is not a bankable yield assessment, detailed electrical design, protection or structural study, grid application, fire and life-safety design, tender certification, installation plan or financial guarantee.

Test the decision logic before committing to a vendor or design path.

Start with the decision, available evidence and the outcome the organization needs.

Request an independent review

Engagement at a glance

A defined decision engagement.

Scope

3-4 weeks · AED 28,000-65,000

Typical inputs

Load data and utility bills
Tariffs and demand-charge structure
Site information and available layouts
Vendor proposals or concept options, if any

Decision-ready output

A vendor-neutral option comparison, sensitivity cases, risk register, evidence gaps and a recommendation with clear conditions.

Not included

Bankable feasibility study
Detailed electrical or civil design
Grid-connection application
EPC procurement or installation

Final scope and fee are confirmed after a 20-minute fit call and review of available information.

Request a fit call See sample outputs

Fit and frequently asked questions

Use this offer when the next decision matters more than another generic report.

When should we use this brief?

Before approving a concept, issuing a tender, selecting a vendor or accepting optimistic commercial claims.

Can you review an existing proposal?

Yes. NEI separates proposal facts, assumptions, omissions and decision risks.

Does the brief replace detailed design?

No. It defines whether and how to proceed to deeper engineering or procurement.

Are savings or returns guaranteed?

No. Results are presented as ranges with traceable assumptions and sensitivities.

Australian application

Review PV and battery proposals in their real market context.

Australian reviews can test the proposed use case against site load, tariffs, export limits, dispatch assumptions, network constraints and relevant NEM or local-market conditions. NEI provides owner-side decision support; licensed design, connection approval and installation remain outside the advisory scope.