Studies
Hydro electricity. N/A N/A
Feasibility Study for a hydro power plant
| Country : | France . |
| Client : | Intercommunity association of Energies of the Department of the Loire (SIEL) . |
| Start Date : | 2004 |
| Completion Date : | 2005 |
| Value of services : | 12 310 € |
| Funder : | SIEL (Syndicat Intercommunal d’Electrification et des Energies de la Loire) |
| Associate/Partner : | N/A |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Description : |
The French legislation (law 2000-108 and article L 2224-32 of the Code Général des Collectivités Territoriales) gives the opportunity to local governments to install and operate new hydro power plants with a maximum installed capacity of 8000 kW. The Syndicat Intercommunal d’Energies du Département de la Loire(SIEL 42) and the town of Feurs (owner of an existing dam on the Loire river), have decided to undertake an appraisal of their existing dam in order to assess what are the required investments and operating costs necessary to the upgrading of the dam into a micro-hydro power plant. The objective is to see how this investment could generate cash revenues for the town council in the near term, while reducing the current electricity bill expenses on the town council’s buildings. |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Description of the Actual Services Provided | The feasibility study emphasized the following elements : A diagnosis of the existing dam’s safety status - as it was built in 1969, and of it’s capacity to host a low head hydro power plant (3m head for 60m3) The technical study of the upgrading project that was to (i) assess the demand from public buildings and the MHPP energy production potential, (ii) assess the various equipment design and sizing options (civil works, electromechanical equipment), (iii) work schedule and cost estimation The economic study that aimed at assessing the forecasted revenues, and the financial analysis, computing the internal rate of return and assessing various investment scenarios for equity investment and loans The administrative aspects of the project : assessment of the current situation of the dam and listing of authorizations to be secured by the town council necessary for project implementation Environmental impact assessment of the project, focusing on construction and operation impacts |