About Arroyo

The engineering behind Arroyo

Arroyo is an independent electrical engineering and energy advisory built on over eight years' experience across the United Kingdom and South Africa — spanning renewable energy, oil and gas, heavy industry and infrastructure.

Our background

The practice is led by Dillen McGaffin, BEng in Electrical Engineering (University of Pretoria) and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). That background runs from refinery and oil-and-gas design in Wales, through industrial and biogas plants in England, to senior electrical engineering on utility-scale solar and battery projects across the UK, Europe and Australia — and the technical management of a 125 MW gas-peaker and battery-storage portfolio.

That breadth is deliberate. It's why Arroyo isn't a solar shop or a single-trick consultancy: the same engineering rigour applies whether the question is an HV grid connection, a motor-control-centre replacement in a factory, the design of a battery plant, or whether your electricity bill is actually correct.

Arroyo (formerly Aurora Energy Engineering) exists to deliver that experience directly — senior judgement, independent of any supplier or contractor, without the overheads of a large firm. Based in Tzaneen, Limpopo, we work with clients across South Africa and the United Kingdom, remotely and on-site.

Track record

Selected experience

The experience behind Arroyo covers some of the most demanding projects in the sector — delivered and managed in senior engineering roles:

  • 50 MWh grid-scale battery (BESS), UK National Grid — project management of a battery plant providing frequency-response services (FFR, Dynamic Containment, Moderation and Regulation).
  • 125 MW gas-peaker + 55 MWh battery portfolio — technical portfolio management, performance and regulatory compliance.
  • 40 MWh BESS for dynamic containment — lead electrical design within the EPC, engineered for future upgrade to 80 MWh.
  • 33 MWp solar PV, Australia — senior electrical engineering to stringent international grid codes — DC/LV calculations, specifications, drawings and HV/ICP review.
  • 15 MWp solar PV, England — lead electrical engineering across the same design scope.
  • Refinery & oil-and-gas (Wales) — LV motor-control-centre replacement and 3.3 kV motor installations designed to BS EN 60947 / 60439 and BS 7671.
  • Infrastructure (Gauteng) — hospital electrical infrastructure and Bus Rapid Transit network design.

Arroyo is currently retained on utility-scale renewable projects exceeding 50 MW.

How we work

Principles that guide every engagement

Independent

Unbiased advice with no supplier or contractor allegiances.

Rigorous

Engineering judgement backed by data and standards.

Practical

Clear recommendations you can actually act on.

Local & global

Rooted in Limpopo, experienced across South Africa and the UK.