Economic Assessment of Hydropower Projects

Basic economic methods.Economic design criteria, investment and socio- and environmental-economic analysis.Contracts and administration, payment, acquisition

The course is offered in English to the students in first year in the MSc programme Hydropower Development and third or fourth year of the siv.ing. studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering. The course covers economic analysis and the basis for technical-economical optimisation of hydropower plants for planners and project managers of hydropower projects.KnowledgeThe student will have knowledge of:- Basics of economic and financial analysis- Different economic evaluation techniques and elements- Levelized unit cost, Long Run Marginal Cost and energy tariffing- Economic evaluation of environmental impacts and costs of mitigation- Financing of energy projects- Principles of engineering economics- Conditions of project optimality- Economic analysis of water reservoirs- Economic analysis of turbine and generator capacities- Economic analysis of headrace/tailrace tunnels and pressure shafts/pen-stocks- Economic analysis of diversion tunnels- Optimization models for hydropower systems- Economic design criteria for hydropower plantsSkillsStudents will be able to:- Perform economic and financial analysis for a hydropower plant- Plan the basis for technical-economical optimization of hydropower plants- Participate in Environment Impact Analysis- Participate in Prefeasibility studies of hydropower projects General competenceThe student shall know the basics design optimum criteria for hydropower plants, taking into consideration technical, economic as well as environmental factors. The student shall be able to see and evaluate hydropower development in a societal context and participate in evaluation of hydropower project alternatives.

Lecturers come from the university and the hydropower industry. All lectures and exercises are given in English. The course include also a group work and presentation of a case.