Stages of hydropower development cycle

The stages of the hydropower development cycle are:

1. Reconnaissance (identification) study: find possible sites and rank them.
2. Pre-feasibility study: compare layout options and choose the best.
3. Feasibility study: prove technical, economic and environmental viability.
4. Detailed engineering design: final design, drawings and tender documents.
5. Construction and commissioning: build, test and hand over.
6. Operation and maintenance: run the plant and monitor its performance.

Before these, a river basin master plan may be done; the first four stages are the planning stages, in which investment decisions are made.