--- title: "Steps of a feasibility study (team leader)" subject: "Hydropower Engineering" chapter: 2 key: "semester_7/hydropower_engineering:feasibility-study-steps-consultant" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/hydropower_engineering/feasibility-study-steps-consultant site: BCT Engineering --- # Steps of a feasibility study (team leader) Hydropower Engineering · Chapter 2: Planning of Hydropower Projects - Asked in: 2081 Bhadra, 8 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/hydropower_engineering/feasibility-study-steps-consultant - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/hydropower_engineering/chapter-2 ## Question Suppose you are a senior consultant engineer with the responsibility of being the team leader for a small hydropower project. Describe the steps and activities that your team must carry out to conduct a feasibility study for this hydropower project. ## Short answer The feasibility study includes mobilization, topographic/hydrological/geotechnical surveys, optimization of design discharge and installed capacity, preliminary design of structures and electro-mechanical equipment, cost estimation (±10–15%), environmental and social assessment (IEE), economic and financial analysis (B/C, NPV, IRR), and final report preparation. ## Answer As team leader of a feasibility study for a small hydropower project, I would organise the work in the following steps. 1. **Mobilisation and planning:** Review the pre-feasibility report and terms of reference; form a team (hydrologist, geologist, civil/structural, hydraulic, electro-mechanical, survey, environment, social, economist, cost engineer); prepare the work plan, schedule and budget; collect maps and data. 2. **Surveys:** Topographic survey at 1:500-1:1000 of headworks, waterway, powerhouse; river cross-sections; alignment survey of access road and transmission line. 3. **Hydrological study:** Install/read the gauge, discharge measurements, long-term flow series by correlation, FDC, design flood, sediment load, environmental flow. 4. **Geological and geotechnical study:** Mapping, geophysics, core drilling, test pits, rock/soil tests, and construction materials survey; assess slope stability. 5. **Selection of the project parameters:** Optimise design discharge and installed capacity (energy vs. cost), fix the intake, waterway type, powerhouse position and the tailrace level. 6. **Preliminary design:** Weir/intake, desander, headrace, forebay, penstock, powerhouse, tailrace, access, and switchyard; hydraulic and structural calculations; turbine selection (type, number, rating). 7. **Transmission and market:** Line route to the grid, substation, and a check with NEA about the PPA/tariff. 8. **Environmental and social:** IEE (up to 50 MW) with baseline data, impact and mitigation, resettlement and land acquisition plan. 9. **Quantities, cost and schedule:** Bill of quantities, unit rates, project cost (±10-15%), construction schedule and implementation plan. 10. **Economic and financial analysis:** Energy and revenue, B/C, NPV, IRR, payback, sensitivity to cost, flow and tariff; financing plan. 11. **Report:** Main report, drawings, annexes; present to the client; revise by comments. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What should the team leader do first in the feasibility study? A. Order the turbines B. Start construction C. Review the pre-feasibility report and terms of reference, form the team and prepare work plan D. Prepare the operation manual Answer: C. Mobilisation and planning come first: review, team formation, schedule and budget. (Key point: Mobilisation) 2. How are design discharge and installed capacity selected? A. By optimising energy versus cost B. By taking the maximum flood C. By taking the minimum flow always D. By copying another project Answer: A. Capacity is optimised by balancing energy benefit against cost. (Key point: Project parameters) 3. What is checked with NEA in the transmission and market step? A. The PPA and tariff B. The dam height C. The desander size D. The camp location Answer: A. Line route and connection are planned and the PPA/tariff is confirmed with NEA. (Key point: Transmission and market) 4. What environmental study is required for a small project up to 50 MW? A. No study B. Only a verbal report C. IEE with baseline, impact, mitigation and resettlement plan D. Full EIA always including 10 years data Answer: C. Projects up to 50 MW need an IEE. (Key point: Environmental study level) 5. Which indicators are used in economic and financial analysis? A. Head and discharge only B. B/C, NPV, IRR, payback and sensitivity C. Turbine speed and specific speed D. Sediment and flood Answer: B. These show viability and its sensitivity to cost, flow and tariff. (Key point: Economic analysis) ## Related in Hydropower Engineering - [Study stages for 10 MW remote project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Asmall-10mw-study-stages) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2 - [Pre-feasibility site-specific investigations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Aprefeasibility-site-investigations) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2 - [Development phases; pre-feasibility factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Adev-phases-prefeasibility-factors) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2 - [Studies in reconnaissance, pre-feasibility, feasibility](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Arecon-prefeas-feas-studies) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2, asked 3× - [Pre-feasibility vs feasibility; site investigations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Aprefeasibility-vs-feasibility-investigations) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2 - [300 MW reservoir project: planning to commissioning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fhydropower_engineering%3Areservoir-300mw-planning-to-commissioning) — Hydropower Engineering, chapter 2 ## Related in other subjects - [Case study: feasibility, drawbacks, convincing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Finstrumentation_ii%3Acs-2072kartik-feasibility) — Instrumentation II, chapter 10 - [Proposal; feasibility study of a road project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-questions-feasibility-road) — Project Engineering, chapter 2 - [Stages of hydropower project study](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fhydro_power%3Ahydropower-study-stages) — Hydro Power, chapter 3, asked 3× - [PDLC and feasibility study](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Apdlc-feasibility-study) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1