Loadside Power Project Readiness Criteria

Vendor-neutral pre-procurement criteria for industrial on-site power and energy projects.

Version 1.0. Last reviewed: October 2026. Owner: Loadside Power.

What these criteria decide

These criteria address one question: whether enough of an industrial on-site power project's commercial fundamentals are known for manufacturer-side engineering effort to be worthwhile. They do not score equipment, compare manufacturers or design a plant. They are used before equipment is specified or tendered, by Loadside Power and by anyone bringing a project to it.

Industrial power projects can stall for commercial rather than technical reasons. The fuel was never secured, the heat was assumed, the decision owner was never identified, or no funding route existed. Engineering cannot fix those, so they are checked first.

These criteria are Loadside Power's working framework, a structured professional screening framework and not an automatic scoring algorithm. They are not an industry standard, a certification or an accredited methodology. Projects differ, professional judgment applies, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee that a project will be viable. Technical engineering review follows once a project is judged ready.

How to read CLEAR, GAP and STOP

Each of nine dimensions is marked CLEAR, GAP or STOP.

CLEAR: the point can be described credibly, ideally with figures. It does not need to be complete or final.
GAP: the point is unresolved but closable. A GAP is a task with an owner, not a verdict.
STOP: a condition that, while it is true, makes technical effort premature or wasted. STOP means stop for now. It does not mean the project can never work.

A project is generally ready for manufacturer-side technical review when no material dimension remains at STOP and the remaining GAPs are defined, owned and realistically closable. There are three typical outcomes:

No STOP, and the open GAPs are defined and closable: ready for technical review, with the open gaps listed.
No STOP, but material GAPs in trigger, fuel or decision structure: close those gaps first. Technical review would be building on assumptions.
Any material STOP: pause. State what would have to change, and revisit when it does.

The nine readiness dimensions

1. Project trigger

What has changed that forces a decision?

CLEAR: A specific change or date can be named, such as an overhaul due, an approved expansion, a written grid constraint or a fuel offer.
GAP: A change exists, but its timing or consequence is unclear.
STOP: There is no identifiable trigger, only a general interest in on-site power.

2. Electrical load

What does the site actually need, and when?

CLEAR: Approximate load, operating hours and minimum load can be described, ideally from metered data.
GAP: Load is estimated from nameplates or bills, the profile is unknown, or growth is uncertain.
STOP: No identifiable electrical requirement exists, or the load is too small or too intermittent to keep a plant running for enough hours to matter.

3. Fuel position

Can the required fuel be secured on a commercial basis?

CLEAR: A credible fuel source, expected quantity and pressure, and commercial basis can be described.
GAP: Fuel is potentially available, but price, quantity, pressure, logistics or contract terms remain unresolved.
STOP: There is currently no credible route to secure the required fuel for the life of the asset.

4. Thermal demand, where relevant

Does recovered heat have a real use? Mark this dimension not applicable for power-only projects.

CLEAR: Steam, hot-water, process-heat or cooling demand is identified, with levels and hours that coincide with the electrical load.
GAP: Thermal demand is believed to exist but has not been measured, or its hours are unknown.
STOP: The case depends on heat that has no real use on site.

5. Existing equipment and site conditions

What is already there, and can the site host a project?

CLEAR: Existing engines, boilers, chillers and the grid connection are described, and space and access are known.
GAP: Equipment condition, records or site constraints are incomplete.
STOP: An unresolved site condition, such as no right to use the space or an open connection or permitting question, makes engineering premature.

6. Timing

When must something be decided, or delivered?

CLEAR: A decision date or a date by which power is needed can be named.
GAP: Timing is indicative or depends on another unresolved item.
STOP: Timing is undefined or purely speculative, and nobody is waiting on the outcome.

7. Decision structure

Who decides, and can they be reached?

CLEAR: The decision owner is identified, the process is known and there is access to them.
GAP: The owner is known, but the process, budget cycle or approval route is unclear.
STOP: No internal decision owner exists, or the person bringing the project cannot reach one.

8. Commercial and funding path

Is there a credible route to fund or structure the project?

CLEAR: At least one route can be described: owner-funded capital expenditure, financed equipment, a lease or structured arrangement, or third-party-owned generation.
GAP: A preferred route exists, but approval or terms are open.
STOP: There is no realistic route to fund or structure the project.

9. Policy and regulatory dependency

Do market and policy conditions support the assumed commercial case?

CLEAR: The fuel rules, levies, permits and grid or utility arrangements that apply have been checked and do not undermine the case.
GAP: Dependencies are identified but not yet confirmed.
STOP: Fuel regulation, levies, gas allocation, utility rules or permitting undermines the assumed case, or the case depends on a rule that has not yet been made.

Stop conditions, and what would need to change

Each of these means stop for now. Each states what would have to change. They are decision criteria, not verdicts.

No real project trigger. Only a general interest in on-site power exists. This changes when a decision, a date or a constraint appears.
No identifiable electrical requirement. The load cannot be described, or is too small to support a plant. This changes when load data or a larger requirement exists.
No credible fuel route. There is no realistic way to secure the required fuel. This changes when a supply, connection or contract becomes available.
Adverse policy or regulatory dependency. A levy, allocation rule or fuel restriction removes the assumed economics. This changes when the rule changes, or when the case is rebuilt on the rule as it stands.
No usable heat where the CHP case depends on it. Recovered heat would be rejected or wasted. This changes when genuine thermal demand is found.
No internal decision owner. Nobody with authority is engaged. This changes when one is identified and reachable.
No credible commercial or funding path. The project cannot be paid for or structured. This changes when a route becomes credible.
Unresolved site condition. Space, connection, permitting or access is open. This changes when the condition is resolved.
Project already committed to an EPC or manufacturer route. A screen adds little, and a direct equipment enquiry can be the faster path. This changes only if the committed route is reopened.
Speculative or undefined timing. Nothing depends on a date. This changes when a real decision window appears.

Readiness by project type

The nine dimensions apply to every project. These short examples show what makes each project type ready for technical review.