Yi Meng, Director of Engineering at RRC Companies, and Senior Electrical Project Engineer Irtaza M. Syed have co-authored an article that could improve the connectivity of renewable energy systems to the grid. Their collaborators included Muhammad M. Fayyaz of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Muhammad N. Aman of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The article, published in the journal Energies, examines the potential for using a comprehensive model predictive control (CMPC) method to control a three-phase four-legged inverter (TP4LI) to reduce losses in photovoltaic, i.e., solar power systems. In the article, researchers showed that CMPC provided a simple and intuitive control model to minimize losses associated with switching frequency and/or high voltage-current switching while keeping the harmonics under industry standard limits. The proposed method is based on model predictive control (MPC) and draws on its inherent strengths, such as small memory requirements, fast computational speed, parameter robustness, and high performance to optimize the process and losses. Although initially focused on solar power systems, Meng, Syed, and their co-authors found that CMPC was suitable for inverter control in all DC-AC conversion applications, including wind power. They plan to conduct further experimental work to support this research. Speaking about his interest in working on this article, Meng said, “Working on this project was a fantastic opportunity to apply engineering techniques to an important and challenging problem in the energy industry.” “I am happy to conduct research and explore new ideas at RRC Companies that can benefit our clients and the industry. It would not have been possible without RRC Companies’ encouragement and support,” added Syed. The implications of this research could be significant, as the use of these techniques helps reduce the cost and complexity of renewable energy systems, making them more efficient and sustainable in the long term. As the world continues to transition towards cleaner and more renewable forms of energy, this research could play an important role in shaping the future of the energy industry. The full text of the article is available on MPDI.com, an open-access publishing platform, supporting academic communities. To learn more about RRC Companies, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

June 15, 2021

News Release:

RRC Power and Energy Completes Acquisition of 8760 Consulting LLC.

Austin TX, June 15, 2021 – RRC Power and Energy, LLC today announced it has completed the purchase of the 8760 Consulting LLC business.  The addition of 8760’s Project Development Engineering, Preliminary Technical Due Diligence and EPC Support services will further enable RRC, a leader in Renewable Project Engineer, to provide Developers, Owners, and EPCs with Solar Project Optimization services from conceptualization to connection to the utility grid.

“Our goal is to be one of the leading renewables advisors both in the US and Internationally” said Mike Kraft, Vice President of Business Development.  “We are already able to provide a full set of engineering and field services, to enable solar project optimization, and the addition of 8760 will give our clients additional services at the front end when the critical make or break decisions are being made”.

8760 is currently serving Developers through conceptual system modeling and design, tracker topography constraint analysis, project management and project engineering services.  “We help our clients to conceive and/or to acquire investment grade solar PV projects, joining the RRC family not only give us a stronger and bigger platform to continue to serv our customers but also enable us to creating new value propositions for the Brazil and USA markets.” said Miguel Silva, General Manager.

RRC and 8760 Consulting share a common vision of providing leadership and quality in consulting and advising services to the Solar PV marketplace. 

RRC Power and Energy LLC, headquartered in Austin Texas, is a technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in the Wind, Solar, and Power Delivery markets. 

For more information please contact: Miguel Silva, [email protected]

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Arron Swindler to the position of Director of Business Development for RRC Power and Energy!  Arron has been with the company for 12 years, joining RRC on April 21, 2008. Arron originally joined the team as an Engineering Technician and was part of the initial core team of our now industry recognized CMT Group. Through hard work, leadership, and lots of energy, Arron has been able to advance within the organization taking on many leadership roles. Throughout his career, Arron has played a key role in helping to build our stellar reputation within the renewable industry. Having interfaced with our clients on multiple levels, Arron most recently served as the CMT Group Manager. The CMT Group is a critical component of the RRC business and Arron will be focusing on providing our clients with best-in-class service and responsiveness. When asked to reflect on his time and growth at RRC, Arron stated “When I was given the opportunity to join the RRC team, I instantly knew that I didn’t just become an employee, I became part of the family. They have provided me the resources and guidance to grow and develop my career to unbelievable bounds. The most valuable asset this company and its leaders have taught me is that a company’s strength and success is defined by the strength of their team members.” We look forward to his continued contributions to the organization and industry!

We’re excited to introduce Mike Kraft, PE to the RRC team! Mike comes to RRC with over 15 years of experience within the power and energy sectors. Throughout his time in the industry, Mike has held numerous leadership roles for renewable generation and high voltage consulting and construction organizations. Mike has an extensive background in electrical engineering, engineering leadership, and business development. Mike and his family relocated to Texas this month from North Dakota and will be based out of our Round Rock, TX office. When asked about his first day. Mike had the following to say: “I couldn’t be more excited to join the RRC team! Having known RRC for many years I have always been impressed by the rapid growth of the organization. Additionally, having recently been able to work with RRC directly in my most recent position, moving to RRC was a clear and easy decision. I’m looking forward to meeting the entire RRC team over the coming weeks and months. I just hope that I don’t melt in the Texas heat!” Please join us in welcoming Mike to the RRC team!

We are incredibly proud to announce that RRC Power & Energy, LLC is #41 on ENR’s Top Design Firms’ latest rankings for the power industry! This is in addition to ranking #423 in ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms for 2020. Congratulations to everyone involved including our employees, clients, and subcontractors for helping us reach this exciting milestone.

  We are incredibly proud to announce that RRC Power & Energy, LLC made the annual ENR Top 500 Design Firms for 2020! Congratulations to everyone involved including our employees, clients, and subcontractors for helping us reach this exciting milestone.

  RRC now offers Transmission Line Engineering services! Our experienced team of engineers work closely with clients to develop and complete detailed engineering for transmission line projects. With 30+ years of experience, the group offers complete design packages and individual T-Line design services for new, rebuild, reconductor, and/or existing projects. Contact us today for an assessment of your project opportunities.  

In honor of RRC’s 10 year anniversary, the RRC co-founders reflect on their contributions to the innovative company we see today. This week, the spotlight shines on Bill Bong, Business Development Director in our Round Rock, TX office.  

Bill Bong is one of the founding members of RRC and is responsible for developing business leads for the company. Bill has been in the engineering field for over 17 years and involved in the wind industry for over 11 years. He started his career as a geotoechnical engineer with Standard Testing & Engineering in Oklahoma City, OK. Since co-founding RRC, Bill and others have positioned the firm as experts in the wind energy market. He serves the energy sector as a senior project/client manager and has managed numerous wind farm projects which include foundations, roadways, electrical substations, and transmission lines. Mr. Bong is considered an expert in project and client management. His expertise in the field and personalized approach has earned significant repeat business from a long list of wind energy clients. With a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Bill is an entrepreneur who has always been drawn to starting and running a business. For him, part of the inspiration for starting RRC came from the belief that hard work should be appreciated and rewarded. Starting a business was a way for Bill to create the systems that would allow employees to shine. Bill recalls the McAdoo Wind Farm as being particularly memorable because he acted as the Project Manager and Engineer responsible for the proposal, project negotiation, drilling management, field logging, laboratory testing, reporting, and invoice generating for the project. His hopes for the future of the company include being successful in the multi-discipline engineering field and to be well known in the industries RRC serves. In his spare time, Bill enjoys traveling with his family, swimming, and reading business magazines.

In honor of RRC’s 10 year anniversary, the RRC co-founders reflect on their contributions to the innovative company we see today. This week, the spotlight shines on Mohammed H. Abusalih, Renewable Energy Industry Lead in our Round Rock, TX office.  

As one of the founding members of RRC, Mohammed H. Abusalih has gained considerable engineering and project management experience for renewable energy projects across the United States. In addition, Mohammed has extensive engineering experience in transportation-related projects, public works, and commercial developments. His responsibilities include business development, client management, and overall project management. Mohammed’s proficiency in the field and tailored approach to each project has proved his commitment and dedication to ensuring high levels of execution and quality of deliverables, resulting in many satisfied and repeat renewable energy clients. Mr. Abusalih is considered an expert in geotechnical engineering in the wind industry with experience in several states across the country. Mohammed has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Utah State University and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. He is a registered Professional Engineer in 15 states across the country. Having started his career with the Utah Department of Transportation, Mohammed has since accumulated 21 years of engineering experience, 11 of those years in the renewable energy industry. “When starting RRC, our primary goals were to be a trusted advisor and partner to our core clients and to differentiate ourselves from others in the markets we serve,” Mohammed recalls. “Hard work, dedication, and self-motivation of every RRC employee has positioned us as a leader in the industry.” Looking back on 10 years at RRC, Mohammed highlights the Shepherds Flat Wind Project in Oregon as a significant milestone. It is currently one of the largest wind projects in the country and the project provided learning opportunities with its unique challenges and geologic hazards. In his free time, Mohammed enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, especially in the western slopes of Colorado. He has participated in numerous amateur High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) with local automobile clubs at several racing tracks in Texas, including the world class Circuit of the Americas.