Spotlight on Sergio Merelo, Renewable Services AMEA Regional Manager at Applus+

Tell us more about your journey in solar energy, when/where did it start, and how did you come to work with Enertis Applus+?

Since joining Applus+ in 2007, I have always been involved in the power market, focusing on the generation, transmission and distribution of energy. Based in Spain, a pioneering country in the deployment of renewable technology for the last 20-25 years, I have had the perfect start in the renewable sector. From small wind turbines and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) to large-scale wind and solar PV plants, Spain’s innovations provided me with valuable knowledge. Also, the integration of Enertis into the Applus+ group enabled us to strengthen our offer in specialised consulting, engineering and quality control services for solar PV projects. This has allowed me to participate in renewable energy projects all around the world for over a decade and we plan to continue this path. 
 

What motivated Enertis Applus+ to invest in the MENA's solar industry?

As mentioned, Applus+ Energy and Industry Division has a strong presence and vast experience in the region and, in addition to that, MENA’s solar industry offers compelling opportunities. On one hand, the region boasts some of the highest levels of solar irradiance in the world and many governments have implemented supportive regulatory frameworks, providing an ideal setting for the deployment of solar PV projects. On the other hand, a growing population and urbanisation underscore solar energy’s role as a sustainable solution to meet the growing energy demand in the region. In this thriving industry, it is key for project owners, EPC companies and financial institutions to rely on a technical advisor specialised in solar PV projects like Enertis Applus+ to ensure that their projects are planned, executed and operated effectively and efficiently. 
 

Can you tell us about what sets you apart from other competitors?
 

We are a global engineering and consultancy firm focused on renewables, mostly solar and energy storage systems. Our mission is to create significant added value for our clients with our high-level degree of specialisation. R&D and innovation are key pillars of our firm’s strategy and our multi-skilled and committed team is a key differentiator. 

One of our unique features is our solid expertise and global understanding of the renewable energy industry. We have been involved in more than 5,000 projects with an added capacity of 300 GW and 30 GWh in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across 65+ countries, and we have worked for clients of all kinds, among which are the main industry players in terms of financial entities, equity investors, developers and contractors. This experience in the industry, together with our wide knowledge of state-of-the-art technology, enables us to offer the best service to our clients. Apart from that, Applus+ strong position in the region makes us able to support our clients by providing deep knowledge of the PV industry and specific knowledge of the local market.

What's a recent milestone Enertis Applus+ has achieved that you would like to share with us?

Enertis Applus+ is part of the Applus+ Group, which has been operating in the Gulf Region for more than 15 years with permanent offices in Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. 

As a strong, consolidated Technical Advisory firm, we are currently working with some of the key agents in the market (owners, developers and EPCs) and we are providing technical advisory, owner's engineering services and specialised solar PV testing services for SSPC Round 3 and 4 in Saudi Arabia. Enertis Applus+ has one of the largest reference lists in BESS worldwide with a track record of more than 30 GWh. This experience and knowledge will be key for all new renewable energy projects, since energy storage systems play an essential role in managing, in an effective way, this renewable capacity installed. At Enertis Applus+, we are prepared for the upcoming hybrid generation plants.

In addition, through Applus+ team, we provide professional inspection and testing services across all stages of renewable energy projects, including electrical, civil and mechanical testing, environmental studies, health and safety services and regulatory inspections. We protect our client’s interests and mitigate risks at all project phases.