Hydroelectric power stations

Undertake a study of the location alternatives to find the best site for the exploitation:

• Detailed study of plans of the surroundings and visit those areas that have been previously chosen as of interest.
• Study of the accessibility to the area, distance and ease for the evacuation point of the power line, environmental awareness, technical viability of the site, communication options for the automation of the system and others.

Carry out a study of the contributions and circulating flows of the intake of the exploitation in question:

• Average annual flows over the last few years and future trends, monthly flows, daily and even hourly ones, to obtain flow fluctuation throughout the year, month and day, all this using contrasting methods.
• Creating graphs, tables and charts showing the evolution of the aforementioned data and the main characteristics, average, maximum and minimum values, average deviation, classification of the types of year, statistical calculations of probability, etc...

• Obtaining a "prior" investment/production ratio for different equipment flows, starting off with a range of flows in the medium flow area.
• By analysing the previous hypotheses we create a chart with the approximate investment for each case, the production for each case and the exploitation costs, finally obtaining a graph with the curve of the i/p ratio from the most favourable supposition.

Undertake an analysis of the different options regarding the type of turbines and equipment to be installed, specifically, starting from the gross head and the optimal flow chosen we will calculate the equipment's basic features, and obtain the best turbine type. In the case that we can choose between different types of turbines and equipment we will analyse the possible solutions.

Determining the power of the equipment to install at the power plant, gross head, usable head, load losses, equivalent hours and the rest of the parameters that define this type of exploitation.

Determining the energy that can be produced at the power station, for each of the hypotheses set out, paying special attention to the turbine’s performance in different circulating flows, specifically: flow curve, usable head, production for the different equipment options, obtaining average annual production, obtaining annual production for the different types of year.

Undertake a basic study of the environmental aspects that could condition the project's development, specifically, if there are environmentally protected areas and protected species in the area. Basic analysis of the possible impact of each of the elements that make up the power station with respect to each of the elements in the environment.

Undertake an estimate of the investment for each of the hypotheses chosen, broken down by the main items, and for this we have a database of real equipment prices over the last few years.

Undertake a calculation of the main economic indices, for each of the hypotheses that have been finally selected, specifically:

• Creation of a 30 year treasury chart, average term of the equipment's useful life and the term of the concession
• Obtaining the IRR, NPV and Pay back for the calculation hypotheses defined.

OFITECO has provided assistance in the complete development of renewable energy projects, that is, from locating the exploitation, feasibility studies, concessional or authorisation projects, processing of concessions, permits, structural projects and construction management, mainly in exploiting hydroelectricity but also in wind farms, solar and biomass systems.

Study of the circulating flows of the intake of the exploitation in question, checking them against previous existing data, especially:

• A study of the real circulating flows, checking these with data for capacity in situ in the stretch of river area affected by the project.
• Average annual flows over the last few years and future trends, monthly flows, daily and even hourly ones, to obtain flow fluctuations during the year, month and day.
• Creating graphs, tables and charts showing the evolution of the aforementioned data and its main characteristics, average, maximum, minimum values, average deviation, classification of the types of year, statistical calculations of probability, etc...

Design of the different elements that make up the exploitation; weir, intake, bypass line, loading chamber, penstock, main building, restitution, access and auxiliary elements, all this by financially optimising its design, adapting it to the area's topography, the environment and other parameters of interest.

Design of the different electromechanical elements that make up the exploitation; Turbine and regulation equipment, generator, sluicegates, cleaning of grates, valves and electrical system, all this by financially optimising its design and taking into account its functionality.

Creation of an economic-financial study: Finally, taking into account all the data obtained in the previous chapters, we carry out a calculation of the main economic indices, for each of the hypotheses that have been finally selected, specifically:

• Creation of a 30 year assets chart, average term of the equipment's useful life and the term of the concession
• Obtaining the IRR, NPV and Pay back for the calculation hypotheses defined.

Investment budget: Study of the investment for the hypothesis chosen, containing a detailed chapter on the measurements, price list, execution budget for the material and by contract, requesting a specific price for certain elements such as deciding electromechanical ones.