Basic Investigations

Hydrological network
Water Basin Plans

Ranking of projects according to size,
cost, environmental effects etc

Planning of Hydropower
Projects
Purpose Oriented Investigations

Identify, investigate and select the best
projects for a stated purpose. Benefit
greatly from basic investigations

Investigation of Resources
Planning Parameters and Data
Power Demand
Hydrology
Topography
Geology, Soils and Materials
Environment
Socio-economic aspects
Tariffs and Tariff Policy or Market Price

Investigation of Resources
Power Demand

Demand
Supply systems
Energy conservation
Power market surveys
Demand forecast
Investigation of Resources
Power Demand
Investigation of Resources
Hydrology
Availability of hydrological data
Rainfall data
Supplementary gauging stations
Establishment of flow records
Reconstruction of flows
Projection of design flows
Overall average flow
Seasonal distribution of flows

Investigation of Resources
Hydrology (contd)
Minimum flow
Run-off estimates
Water balance (rain, evaporation, flow)
Floods
Flood routing
Diversion during construction
Hydraulic design studies
Design flood (Probable Maximum Flood)

Investigation of Resources
Hydrology (contd)
Operation studies
Software for power production
Direct diversion operation (run-of-river)
Reservoir operation
Power operations
Hydrological data required (duration curve)
Investigation of Resources
Hydrology
Nam Sim - Duration Curve at Intake including Bokay
Average flow = 4,32 m3/s
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % 120 %
Percent of Time
F
l
o
w
,

m
3
/
s
Investigation of Resources
Topography
Power = Efficiency x Head x Flow
Project layout
Catchment Area
Dam sites
Waterways
Power Stations
Transmission lines
Geology
Investigation of Resources
Geology, soils and materials
Exploration of foundation conditions
Reservoir water tightness
Reservoir slope stability
Seismic activity
Sediment problems in reservoirs
Sediment problems in structure design
Identify construction materials
Investigation of Resources
Environment
Diversion of water
Regulation and inundation
Impacts on settlements
Influence on climate
Impacts on fish and wildlife
Impacts on irrigation/agriculture
Increased malaria spread because of
reservoir (proposal from former class)

Investigation of Resources
Socio-economic aspects
Social benefits
Economic benefits
Investigation of Resources
Tariffs, tariff policy or market price
Country Households
(UScent/kWh)
Commercial
(UScent/kWh)
Average salary
for employees
(USD/year)
Comments
Tanzania 8 12 1 300 Tariff
Uganda 25-27 25-27 2 900 Tariff
Ethiopia 9 13 1 200 Tariff
India 6.25 12.5 4 500 Tariff state by state
Nepal 11 15 1 800 Tariff
Bhutan 3 5 3 500 Tariff
Belgium 15-20 15-20 30 000 Element of market price
Norway 8-20 8-20 50 000 Market price
Planning
The hydropower development cycle
Phase Large HPP Small/Mini HPP
Less than 10-20 MW
Preconstruction 3-5 years 1-2 years
Implementation
Construction
3-8 years 1,5-3 years
Operation 50-100 years 30-50 years
Planning
The hydropower development cycle
Typical process resulting in
implementation of one HPP

Reconnaissance studies of 20-30 schemes
Pre-feasibility studies of 3-5 schemes
Feasibility studies of 1-2 schemes

Go-ahead
Planning
The hydropower development cycle
Phase Large HPP Small/Mini HPP
Less than 10-20 MW
Preconstruction 3-5 years 1-2 years
Implementation
Construction
3-8 years 1,5-3 years
Operation 50-100 years 30-50 years
Planning
The hydropower development cycle
Project Planning Project Implementation Operation
3 - 5 years 3 - 8 years 50 - 100 years
DEFINITE PLAN ENGINEERING
STUDY
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT -
SUPERVISION OF WORKS
MANUFACTURING,
TRANSPORT AND
ERECTION
DETAIL DESIGN
WORKING DRAWINGS
COMMISSIONING OF
WORKS
DESIGN AND
PROCUREMENT
RECONNAISSANCE
STUDIES
FEASIBILITY
STUDIES
PRE_FEASIBILIT
Y STUDY
OPERATION OF
INSTALLATIONS
When is financial closure?
Planning
Required expertise
Project organisation
Power market
Economic and financial analyses
Hydrology/meteorology
Geodesy and surveying
Electro-mechanical engineering
Geology and rock mechanics
Soil mechanics
Erosion and sedimentology

Planning
Required expertise (contd)
Hydropower planning and design
Hydraulic structures
Operation and maintenance
Cost engineering
Quality engineering
Environmental baseline disciplines
Socio-economy
Reconnaissance Studies
Main Objectives
Purpose oriented
Screening of rivers, kWh per km, etc
Identification of projects
Identification of alternatives
Desk studies on available data
Development of preliminary project
solutions, generation capacity, etc
Preliminary cost estimating

Reconnaissance Studies
Main Objectives (contd)
Comparison of project alternatives
Ranking of projects for further
investigations
Listing of projects for further reference
Reconnaissance Studies
Personnel
Reconnaissance studies require the most
experienced personnel
Hydropower Planner/Team Leader
Hydrologist
Engineering Geologist/Geotechnical exp
Various other experts
Support Personnel


Reconnaissance Studies
The Environment
Identification of obvious and severe
environmental implications
Search for mitigating solutions
Abandon if deemed necessary
Severe impacts may be:
Inundation of large land areas
Interference with large habitations and
infrastructure
Severe changing of water regimes
Reconnaissance Studies
The Study
DATA COLLECTION
DESK STUDY
Power demand
Flow
Head
Regulation possibilities and needs
Environmental constraints
Reconnaissance Studies
The Study (contd)
FIELD WORK AND DESIGN
Verification of desk study in the field
Care of River problems
Information of technical and environment
features
Information on habitation
Information on other socio-economic impacts
Confirmation of project concept
Reconnaissance Studies
The Study (contd)

ESTIMATES AND SCHEDULES
Preliminary cost estimate
Contingencies
Preliminary implementation schedule
Reconnaissance Studies
The Study (contd)
ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT
Power generation assessment (kWh per year)
Unit cost of power (USc/kWh)
Ranking according to unit cost

REPORT



Reconnaissance Studies
Model for Cost Estimate
1000 MU*
)
1.0 General and preconstruction cost . . . . . . . .
.10 Acquisition of land, water rights, right of way . . . . . . . .
.20 Field investigat., hydrology, topography, geology . . . . . . . .
2.0 Auxiliary works . . . . . . . .
.10 Infrastructure and permanent installations . . . . . . . .
.20 Temporary installations, camps, etc . . . . . . . .
3.0 Civil works . . . . . . . .
.10 Regulation works . . . . . . . .
.20 Dams and intakes . . . . . . . .
.30 Waterways . . . . . . . .
.40 Power station . . . . . . . .
Reconnaissance Studies
Model for Cost Estimate (contd)
1000 MU*
)
4.0 Electromechanical works . . . . . . .
.10 Turbines . . . . . . .
.20 Generators . . . . . . .
.30 Control system . . . . . . .
.40 Transformers and switchyard . . . . . . .
5.0 Transmission lines . . . . . . .
6.0 Engineering, management and administration . . . . . . .
Cost Summary . . . . . . .
Physical contingencies: 25% of 3.0, 10-15% of other items. . . . . . .
GRAND TOTAL . . . . . . .
*
)
MU = monetary units

Pre-feasibility Studies
Subject
One or several defined projects

Objectives
Establishment of the need and justification of the project
Formulation of development plan for the project
Determination of the technical, economic and
environmental merits of the project
Definition of project limit
Recommendations for further actions

Pre-feasibility Studies
Project Formulation
METEOROLOGY
HYDROLOGY
SEDIMENT
MARKET
SURVEYS
DEMAND
FORECASTS
ALTERNATIVE
SUPPLY
WATER
STUDIES
POWER
STUDIES
POWER &
ENERGY
BALANCE
HYDROPOWER
INSTALLATION
OTHER SUPPLY
Pre-feasibility Studies
Water Studies
Rain fall
Evaporation
Surface water
Groundwater
Quality of water
Water rights
Pre-feasibility Studies
Water Requirements
Irrigation
Domestic and industrial water
Power generation
Navigation
Fisheries
Recreation
Wildlife and vegetation

Pre-feasibility Studies
Various Studies
Flood control
Sediment studies
Operation studies
Pre-feasibility Studies
Engineering
Surveying and mapping
General geology
Foundation geology
Construction materials
Project plan
Cost estimates
Pre-feasibility Studies
Other Activities
Power studies
Land resources survey
Land acquisition and resettlement
Environment (Initial Environment Examination)
Economic analysis
Financial analysis
Future investigations
Pre-feasibility study report

Pre-feasibility Studies
Check-list
Collection and evaluation of existing data on:
Existing infrastructure
Power market (existing demand-future demand)
Topographical maps
Aerial photos and other photos
Hydrology records
Evaporation records
Geology records (geological maps, geological description, soil maps,
previous field investigation records (from prospecting, mining, road building
etc)
Sedimentation and erosion records
Seismicity records
Existing plans for hydropower development in the area
Environmental aspects
Present and future multipurpose considerations (irrigation, flood control etc)

Feasibility Studies
Subject
One specific project
Objectives
Determination of the technical, economic &
financial, environmental and socio-economic
feasibility of the project
To constitute the basis for:
Financing
Authorisation and licensing
Compensation
To constitute a firm basis for definite plan
studies, detailed design and tender documents



Feasibility Studies
Power Market
Supply of a new market
Extension of a existing market
Previous studies, review
History, stability/instability and market structure
Classification of load:
Households
Industry
Public administration
Service
Transportation etc
Historical trends
Future development scenarios
Energy conservation
Feasibility Studies
Power Market
Important factors
Historical trends
Population growth
Economic development scenarios
Tariff policy
Substitution loads
Other supply alternatives
Load distribution, geographically
Load distribution, over time
Load factor(s)
Feasibility Studies
Hydrology
Must be firmly established
Quality tests
Gauging station programme
Checking rating curves
Establish run-off series >30 years if
possible
Establish critical flows, min / max
Feasibility Studies
Topography
Catchment areas: Scale 1 : 50 000
General maps: Scale 1 : 10 000
Reservoir areas: Scale 1 : 25 000
Construction sites: Scale 1 : 2 000 or
1 : 1 000

Nowadays also digitalised maps are
produced based on aerial photos
Feasibility Studies
Geology
Continuation of pre-feasibility programme
Sub-surface exploration
Core drilling
Seismic refraction
Pilot tunnels and shafts
Fraction, leakage and stress tests
Trenches and holes
Laboratory tests
Field investigation report
Feasibility Studies
Environment
Physical impacts caused by technical
structures and installations
Mitigating the impacts by altering plans
Impacts caused by the implementation of
the project, direct and indirect
Subject of a separate study
Part of the feasibility study
Require special assigned expertise
Thank you