Small or run-of-river hydro
In the last decade, there have been significant developments in best practices when considering public safety management around dam structures. Particularly, the CDA (guidelines for public safety around dams) which was published as draft in 2007 and finalized in 2011. Hatch has been at the forefront of these developments participating in the CDA, the United States Society on Dams (USSD), Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), and International Committee on Large Dams (ICOLD) working groups on public safety around dams.
As a result of our experience, we are fully conversant with the philosophies and principles expressed in the industry guidelines, thereby ensuring that public safety assessment work is performed efficiently and to an appropriate standard. We provide services from performing site assessments and risk assessments, developing public safety management plans for individual programs, to developing full portfolio public safety programs and guidance documents. We’re at the forefront of public safety control measures, in particular the design of multifunction public safety, debris, and ice booms.
Independent Engineering
Independent engineering is the collective term provided to engineering services that are undertaken to support a financial transaction, acquisition, or to provide independent advisory services to a lender during a loan period. Hatch’s deep experience with design, development, construction, operational support, and equipment knowledge of hydropower facilities is leveraged to provide our clients with objective opinions for the various aspects of the project. These assessments typically include red flag and design reviews, review of construction and equipment supply contracts, CAPEX and OPEX review or development, energy generation modeling, schedule, cost and cashflow monitoring and forecasting, construction site inspections, review of
environmental and regulatory requirements, and review of the financial models developed for the project. The scope is always customized to complement our client’s needs and tailored to mitigate project or transaction risk.
Digital assets and digital twins
Digital information management brings value across the entire life cycle of an asset. From engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, handover, and eventually, operations and maintenance. As the project progresses through engineering to handover, a complete digital asset is developed with the quality and maturity of the data continually improving. As the digital asset matures during delivery and into operations, it is progressively handed over until a complete digital representation of the asset is created, known as a digital twin.
The digital twin can drive further operational value through connections to sensor networks and operational/asset management systems, and can be employed to generate simulation, analytical, and optimization capabilities providing easy access to trusted data and improved decision-making throughout the asset’s life cycle. By focusing on information management and the integration of engineered information into the design, development and operation of plants and facilities, Hatch provides the experience, consultation, and support services to help owners and operators setup, maintain and re-use engineered information throughout the plant life cycle.
Performance testing
Accurate information as it pertains to the performance characteristics of your generating equipment is critical to the operation and management of these valuable assets. Hatch’s capabilities in turbine field performance testing include absolute efficiency testing using several different methods of flow measurement (dye dilution, acoustic, pressure time, intake current meter, etc.). Additionally, we can undertake index testing and load rejection testing to ensure that your equipment is properly tuned, and its performance data is available to the operators, maintenance personnel and decision-makers.
Alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR)
We are industry leaders in modeling and managing concrete growth in dams and powerhouses.
Through the successful execution of multiple assignments, our industry leading teams have developed proactive approaches to deal with the effects of concrete expansion due to AAR. This provides confidence to safely operate affected dams and powerhouses. Our practical long-term experience combined with efficient numerical tools like GROW3D provide a perfect combination to deal with AAR-affected structures. We have developed unique methods to address AAR-induced deformations which affect overall dam safety, gate operation issues and turbine/generator clearances, etc.
Rock mechanics and underground structures
Over the past ninety-five years, Hatch’s geotechnical engineering experience has encompassed a wide range of rock engineering projects throughout the world. Notable among these achievements are precedent setting underground powerhouse caverns, tunnels foundations for concrete and earth-fill dams, water conveyance structures and large surface excavations. Hatch has experience in layout, design, and construction supervision of a wide variety of underground structures. Projects include prefeasibility TBM excavated tunnels of up to 14.5 diameter and underground powerhouses of 5,000-, and 2,000- and 1,800MW capacity.
Operational support studies
Operating a waterpower facility at optimum capacity is a delicate balance. We work alongside owners and operators, managing safety, equipment reliability, and output. Our Vista decision support software helps you derive the most value from your generating assets with superior forecasting, planning, scheduling, and dispatching.
Regulatory support, permitting, and approvals
We go where our clients are, and where we're needed. That's all over the world. We're familiar with a host of different regulatory requirements and can help you navigate the often-difficult laws, regulations, and permitting processes in almost any jurisdiction. Development of an effective regulatory strategy can avoid costly project delays. Our environmental professionals bring together scientific expertise and strategic advice based on our thorough understanding of regulatory requirements and legal precedents to increase certainty in project costs and schedule. Our global regulatory team has broad experience in environmental and social impact assessment, as well as permitting which includes environmental study execution, Indigenous engagement, and other stakeholder consultation.
