Saurabh Nirgudkar
When did you join Natural Power?
I joined Natural Power in August 2024.
What does your day typically consist of?
A typical day involves a variety of tasks, including reviewing technology, design documents, contracts, or grid connection details. As a Technical Advisor, I often have to adapt my approach depending on the stakeholder I’m supporting—whether it's a vendor looking to sell a project, a buyer interested in acquiring one, or a lender considering financing. Each party brings a unique perspective to the table, and my role is to guide them with the technical insight they need to make informed decisions.
On some projects, when I take on the role of Project Manager, I’m responsible for coordinating with our internal teams—such as the planning or construction teams—and incorporating their input into the project deliverables. This collaboration not only ensures a more comprehensive outcome but also provides a valuable opportunity to learn from subject matter experts, whose insights significantly enhance both the project and my own professional growth.
Every now and then, it’s a refreshing change to shift focus and work on proposals, helping to build a healthy project pipeline. Most projects have a quick turnaround time of 3–4 weeks, which keeps the pace dynamic and ensures there’s never a dull moment.
What is the most challenging part of your role?
Renewables is a fast-paced and a demanding energy sector that requires continuous learning and staying current with evolving technologies and trends. One needs to follow the latest industry standards as the benchmarks keep shifting as the technology progresses. A product that was a standard as recent as a couple of years back in the industry can no longer be available.
What is the most interesting type of work you have done and why?
One project that stands out is a co-located solar and BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) project I worked on for a lender's due diligence. While BESS isn’t my core area of expertise, I was involved in reviewing a BESS supply contract. The learning curve was steep but incredibly rewarding—it sparked a genuine interest in the BESS field. Analysing the technical specifications of the chosen technology and comparing them to industry benchmarks significantly expanded my knowledge of the industry. The lender's questions pushed me to explore the topics further, deepening my understanding. This project also gave me the opportunity to closely collaborate with our BESS team, whose guidance and support were invaluable throughout the process.
Provide a hidden talent or quirky fact about yourself!?
A hidden talent that no longer is hidden..
My curiosity once led me to spend a weekend diving into podcasts and articles about grid reforms in the UK. Little did I know that deep dive would turn me into the go-to person for any grid reform-related questions!