Zelya Energy

Audit and due diligence of hydroelectric

Zelya Energy works on performance analyses, audits of dams and turbines in operation, as well as on rehabilitation projects (old power stations, milling, mills, simple use of off-plan rights...).

The firm relies on its internal team of multidisciplinary and highly qualified engineers and specialized experts, for different types of works.

In particular, we are able to address the following issues:

  • analysis of maintenance and operation operations
  • monitoring of flows and modeling of the guaranteed availability rate
  • site visit and assessment of the actual condition of hydraulic, mechanical, electronic equipment
  • investment scenarios, profitability studies
  • development of scripts facilitating the collection and integration of production and status information of hydroelectric equipment
  • computer applications for production analysis aimed at optimizing performance

Our team conducts every year feasibility studies, technical and financial assessments of project sites and hydroelectric power plants (from a few hundred kW to several MWs).

Our understanding of the functioning of markets and our thorough knowledge of the profitability issues of renewable assets allows us to provide comprehensive solutions, meeting operational needs on the field as well as managerial and financial needs at the center level.

Technical due diligence of hydroelectric dam

Technical due diligence

Objectives

Technical due diligence is a complement to regulatory due diligence. It validates the general technical characteristics and quantifies the uncertainties and risks on the values retained for the output.

More specifically, it aims to:

identify any inconsistencies between sizing and production, operation and maintenance conditions

validate the general technical characteristics of the hydroelectric power plant: reserved flow, actual flow, losses, efficiency, availability, output

quantify the uncertainties and risks that could have a negative impact on these technical characteristics;

suggest realistic assumptions on these technical characteristics for the financial evaluation model in case of acquisition;

recommend, list and prioritize the appropriate suspensive conditions in the context of a purchase offer submission

Content / Steps

To evaluate the output to retain and quantify the uncertainties and risks of variation of its value, we proceed to the following tasks:

collection of relevant documents: equipment supply contracts, operation and maintenance, insurance, connection and access to networks, resource and output study, reserved flows, local and nearby hydraulic history, etc

Technological analysis and evaluation of the global sizing of the equipment

analysis of the technical clauses of the contracts: efficiency, availability and gross, guaranteed and insured output

analysis of maintenance and production reports

quantitative and qualitative analysis of the history of the availability rate

See related services below

Zelya, our experts support you for the connection to the electrical network of a hydro plant

Study of technical conditions for connection to networks

Objectives

The study of the technical conditions for connecting a hydroelectric power plant to the transport or distribution network is a complement to the technical due diligence.

It is necessary when it is necessary to examine more specifically and in detail whether the connection is optimized (acceptable level of line losses up to the delivery point, reasonable rate of unavailability and cut-offs at the network level,...), and, more generally, if the sizing and operating conditions of the internal electrical installation are compatible with that of the connection to the electrical networks.

More specifically, it aims to:

identify any inconsistencies between the sizing and operating conditions of the internal installation and the connection infrastructure

validate the technical characteristics of the connection

quantify the uncertainties and risks that could have a negative impact on the output

suggest realistic assumptions on these technical characteristics for the financial evaluation model

recommend, list and prioritize the appropriate suspensive conditions or possible improvements

Learn more: Optimization and negotiation of conditions for connection to electrical networks

Technical due diligence of purchase and sale of hydroelectric power station

Audit of the actual condition of the equipment

Objectives

The audit of the actual condition of the equipment in operation is a complement to the technical due diligence. It is based on site visits, on the history of investments and maintenance interventions, and on the possible concession specifications

It allows to verify that the mechanical, electrical, hydraulic equipment is in good working and maintenance condition and to establish if necessary a list of measures to be taken and replacement equipment to be stocked

More specifically, it aims to:

inventory installed equipment

qualify the actual condition of mechanical, electrical and hydraulic equipment and their maintenance

identify measures to be taken before or after the transaction

recommend, list and prioritize the appropriate suspensive conditions: replacement measures to be taken, stocks to be constituted...

Content / Steps

The opportunity and the scope of the on-site technical audit of the power plant in operation can be decided according to the results and recommendations of the technical due diligence, the performance study and the study of the guarantees and maintenance.

In particular, depending on these results, the visual inspection and some specific tests can be targeted only on a sample of machines (infrared, endoscopy of the gearbox, vibratory analysis, isolation test,...)

The on-site audit by visual inspection can generally cover the forced pipe, the HTA and BT cabinets, the generator, the power electronics, the gearbox...

Diagnostic and performance study, analysis of hydroelectric data

Study of performance and risk of failure of a power plant in operation

Objectives

The study of the actual performance of a power plant in operation is a complement to the technical due diligence.

Its objective is to identify the origins of the under-optimization of the output given the conditions of its operation and, in particular, to quantify the impact of maintenance operations on the availability of production and, thus, to verify if the conditions of maintenance and the guarantees subscribed are optimal.

More specifically,