When scaling from Demo to FOAK, one of the biggest decisions is whether to hire an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) company or manage the build yourself.
A great EPC can bring industry expertise, supplier relationships, and project management skills—all crucial for execution. ATOME’s green ammonia project partnered with Casale S.A., boosting investor confidence.
On the flip side, Rosatom’s first planned gigafactory stalled due to a poor EPC choice, while another factory with a better EPC is already nearing completion. The wrong EPC can set your project back years.
But skipping an EPC is possible—if you know what you’re doing. JR Energy Solution built a 500 MWh electrode factory in just 8 months without an EPC, thanks to founder Duke Oh’s deep industry knowledge.
How to decide?
If your Demo project built strong industry relationships and you have an experienced team, you might be able to go without an EPC.
If your technology is highly novel and you lack execution expertise, an EPC may be necessary—but you need to negotiate terms carefully to avoid delays and cost overruns.
Either way, treating your Demo as a “mini-EPC” exercise prepares you for both paths. Would you trust an EPC for your FOAK, or would you rather go it alone?