A family engineering firm since 1920
Engineering Utility-Scale Renewables, Energy Storage, Substations, and Datacenter Power Systems
6+ GW of proven DER, BESS and AI datacenter power expertise. Agile civil and electrical engineering with turnkey electrical, substation and civil permit drawings, delivering durable, affordable utility-scale power on time and on budget.
Services
Independent engineering for solar, fuel cells and storage
We provide independent engineering to developers, owners, utilities and OEMs. Our multi-state engineers can lead any portion of your project, with no learning curve or high corporate overhead, just a history of robust designs and owner's witnessing of construction and commissioning.
Interconnection applications
Interconnection application drawings and support, accelerating utility applications for front-of-meter and behind-the-meter sites.
Stamped permit drawings
Turnkey, IFC electrical, mechanical, civil and substation permit drawings.
Solar PV & BESS design
Optimized PV and battery energy storage system design, including PVsyst performance simulations.
Medium voltage & substations
Medium voltage, protection coordination and interconnection substation design.
Datacenter & DER power
DER and AI datacenter power generation engineering for renewables, fuel cells and storage.
SCADA & controls
Plant controls, fiber, SCADA/PLC and controls design for remote utility-scale sites.
Owner's & independent engineering
Feasibility, value engineering, procurement advice, and owner's witnessing of construction and commissioning.
Military design standards
PV system drawings implemented to US military design standards.
Risk & O&M
Environmental risk mitigation strategies and O&M protocols for proactive maintenance.
Our value engineering approach: designs that blend contractor field experience with value engineering, resulting in bankable designs. Engineering, purchasing and construction operations meet together and focus on value and robustness before drawings are released, with a feedback loop from construction oversight and post-project follow-up.
Projects
Example design, permit and feasibility projects
A selection of solar PV and energy storage work led by our engineering team.
- 10 GWhAC-coupled battery storage feasibility and 345 kV interconnection design with Tesla MegapacksNew York
- 567 MW90 projects, including solar and DC-coupled storageNew York
- 27 MWSolar PV, 25 kV interconnectionHazlehurst, GA
- 18 MWSolar PV, 25 kV interconnectionHebron, MD
- 12 MWUS Navy solar PV, 35 kV and 13.8 kV interconnectionsGuantanamo Bay, Cuba
- 7 MWUS Navy solar PV parking canopies and ballasted arrays, interconnection by othersParris Island, SC
- 4 MWSolar PV, 12 kV interconnectionsLonoke and England, AR
- 2.7 MWSolar PV, 12 kV interconnectionSomerville, TN
- 2.0 MWSolar PV, 12 kV interconnectionCannon Air Force Base, NM
- 1.4 MWCommunity solar, 12 kV interconnectionChattanooga, TN
Company Profile
More than a century of engineering
Tropenas Converter Company, the predecessor corporation, was founded in New Castle, Delaware in 1888. Originally the developer and erector of steel converter processes, the company soon moved into other industries, and in 1920 the corporation was re-chartered as Tropenas Company.
By the 1950s Tropenas worked across mining, manufacturing of marine propulsion systems and engineering consulting, with offices in New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and South Africa. From the 1980s to the 1990s, Tropenas leadership expanded into the process and energy industries, providing engineering, consulting and advisory services.
Today Tropenas is a family firm. The founder's great-grandson, Bill Novak, P.E., MSE, MBA, is President & Chief Engineer. Tropenas divisions offer a range of cross-functional energy advisory and lean engineering services. Our executives are time-tested, with broad experience in energy operations, management, technology and financial services, and our focus is cost-effective solutions for the long term.
- 1888 Tropenas Converter Company founded in New Castle, Delaware
- 1920 Re-chartered as Tropenas Company
- 2009 Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Division chartered as a Tennessee corporation in Brentwood, TN
- 2021 Main headquarters begins operating out of Texas
Where we work
Offices and reach
Texas
Main headquarters since 2021.
28+ states
Affiliates with licensed engineers in 28+ states. Tropenas Company is a Registered Engineering Firm in TN & TX.
Accelerate your project
From interconnection application to construction and commissioning: durable, affordable utility-scale power.
Contact us