Power Generation and Economics - Resource Management Associates (Pvt) Limited

Electricity Utility Planning Energy Economics & Pricing Financial Power Generation and Economics Renewable Energy DevelopmentPower Distribution Network Enhancement Project

RMA is assisting the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to conduct financial and economic due diligence on investments in electricity distribution infrastructure proposed for ADB financing by the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB). The BREB proposes to construct 4,200 km overhead and underground electricity distribution lines of voltages 33 kV and below, construction of 52 33/11 kV distribution substations, augmentation of 12 33/11 kV distribution substations, construction of 3 river crossing towers, construction of 3 switching stations and installation of 900 fault locators under this project.

Electricity Utility Planning Power Generation and EconomicsGreater Male Power System Study

RMA assisted State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) to assess medium voltage protection coordination settings of the existing medium voltage network in Malé and Hulhumalé to improve network reliability, and to identify required changes in protection schemes to interconnect the existing network with under construction 132 kV network. Capacity building of STELCO on network modelling was carried out as part of the assignment.

Information such as network configuration, cable sizes and lengths, relay models, current transformer ratios, generator parameters, transformer loadings and generator operating patterns, future expansion plans were obtained from STELCO. The existing 132 kV and 11 kV networks in Malé and Hulhumalé were modelled in detail in DIgSILENT PowerFactory software to obtain fault levels at each ring main unit. Using simulated fault levels and other information, relay settings were calculated for the sectionalizing points proposed by STELCO. A capacity building program on power systems modelling was carried out for STELCO engineers covering introduction to network planning and planning software, steady-state analysis, contingency analysis, short-circuit criteria analysis, and frequency stability analysis.

Due Diligence on Energy Sector Projects Power Generation and Economics Renewable Energy DevelopmentMannar 100 MW Wind Power Generation Project

RMA in association with Entura Hydro Tasmania, conducted the feasibility study and due diligence for 100 MW Wind Power Generation Project in Mannar. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the implementing agency is Ceylon Electricity Board. Under this project following studies were carried out.

· Assessment of the site wind conditions

· Noise assessment

· Shadow flicker assessment

· Visual amenity assessment

· Grid connection study

· Transport and logistic study

· Legal analysis

· Financial analysis

· Economic analysis

· Action plan for future wind farm development

Construction of the wind farm will be commenced in year 2019 and it will start to serve the national grid by year 2021.

Power Generation and Economics Renewable Energy DevelopmentPreliminary Assessment for a Biomass Power Plant for CIC Holdings PLC

RMA carried out a preliminary assessment for a biomass power plant for CIC Holdings PLC considering the fuel wood requirement, land area required for cultivation, raw water requirement, capacities of boilers and steam turbines, grid interconnection options and project costs and corresponding financial returns.

Power Generation and Economics Renewable Energy DevelopmentCapacity Building for Clean Energy Development

RMA as the lead consultant, in partnership with Mercados Energy Markets India Private Limited, is preparing a renewable energy development master plan for Sri Lanka, a wind park master plan for Mannar, and a business model for Mannar wind parks for the Ministry of Power & Energy of Sri Lanka with financial assistance provided by Asian Development Bank.

This is a comprehensive study on renewable energy resource availability, and on the technical limitations of the national grid which are causing barriers for integrating renewable resource-based power generation. RMA team will then develop the 15-year national master plan to accelerate power generation from renewable resources. The study includes the development of a comprehensive Master Plan for wind power development in the Mannar district in northern Sri Lanka, and the development of a business model to attract investments for wind power development.

Due Diligence on Energy Sector Projects Power Generation and EconomicsConsultancy Services to Lenders to 20 MW Diesel Power Plant in Jaffna Peninsula

The distribution network in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna peninsula was separated from the main grid between 1995-2013. Two Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were procured to provide the supply to the isolated network, until the civil conflict ended in 2009, enabling re-connection to the main grid. RMA was contracted by the lenders to the one of the two IPPs (20 MW) to provide a comprehensive engineering and financial/economic due diligence on these diesel power plants. The services provided included analysis of the status of diesel generators, review of investor proposals for new investments to replace ageing and inefficient generating units, assessment of efficiency, monitoring of maintenance and fuel supply mechanism, etc.

Due Diligence on Energy Sector Projects Power Generation and EconomicsDue Diligence Study on ACE Power Embilipitiya 100 MW Diesel Power Plant

The Embilipitiya Power Plant is a USD 60 million investment, with ACE Power (Pvt) Ltd of Sri Lanka and Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (CPGS) of USA holding equal shares. CPGS required to divest a portion of their equity, and DEG of Germany the investment arm of kfW required a due diligence study to be conducted about the technical and financial status of the power plant project.

Thus RMA was appointed as the consultant to Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH – Infrastructure Department – of Germany, to conduct a due diligence study on ACE Power Embilipitiya 100 MW power plant in Sri Lanka.

The study included the evaluation of the investment and its current market value, efficiency and status of maintenance, and a review of the power purchase agreement/dispatch prospects of the power plant. Based on the RMA recommendation, the project has now been divested.

Power Generation and Economics Renewable Energy DevelopmentFeasibility Study on a 5 MW Wood-fired Power Plant at Puttalam Cement Works

Holcim (Lanka) Limited owns and operates the only fully integrated Cement manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka. Holcim decided to develop a captive power plant to meet the critical loads in the factory thus enhancing the overall plant reliability level. After studying several fuel options in the pre-feasibility study conducted by RMA, Holcim requested RMA to conduct the feasibility study on a wood-fired power plant.

Based on a detailed analysis of the factory power and energy demand, RMA recommended a conventional steam power plant of capacity 5 MW producing 35 GWh of electricity annually. On the fuel supply side, RMA conducted comprehensive studies to select the most promising short rotation crops for wood fuel, potential for growing them the region and developed the conceptual design of a wood fuel supply chain. Conceptual design of the power plant includes fuel handling system, heat & mass balance, sizing and specifying the boiler, steam turbine, generator and associated auxiliaries. A comprehensive financial model was developed to evaluate the commercial feasibility of the project. RMA also addressed the socio-economic issues and assessed the project risks. The feasibility report has been accepted by Holcim.

Due Diligence on Energy Sector Projects Power Generation and EconomicsLenders’ Engineer for 250 MW Independent Power Plants (IPPs)

RMA was selected as the Lenders’ Engineer by a consortium of Sri Lankan banks financing the construction of 250 MW of Independent Power Plant (IPP) capacity in four power plants in Sri Lanka. The projects were promoted by established Sri Lankan Companies. The power plants use diesel engines operated of heavy fuel.

The role of RMA was to conduct due diligence on all the technological aspects of the four power plants. RMA assisted the Banks to review the Power Purchase Agreement, Implementation Agreement and the Fuel Supply Agreement. RMA conducted supervision of the erection, testing and commissioning of the power plants on behalf of the Banks.

The total investment on the power plants were about 160 million US$, of which about 110 million US$ was financed through a syndicated long-term loan by the Consortium of Banks. The first power plant entered commercial operation in March 2002. The second power plant entered operations in April 2005. Power plants are operated by Wartsila of Finland under an Operation and Maintenance contract with ACE Power Generation and Caterpillar Power Generation Systems Ltd. The projects were developed on a Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis under a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement with Ceylon Electricity Board.

Due Diligence on Energy Sector Projects Power Generation and EconomicsEconomic Feasibility of Expansion of Tashkent Power Plant in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has a mixed hydroelectric and thermal electricity generating system, dominated with natural gas. After experiencing a decline in the demand for electricity during early years of independance from the Soviet Union, the Uzbek system is experiencing a surge in demand once again. Some ageing thermal power plants have come to the end of their economic life, displaying poor fuel efficiency and reliability.

RMA was commissioned to conduct the economic evaluation of the proposal to expand the Tashkent Power Plant in Uzbekistan. The study was conducted for Mitsubishi Reasearch Institute, Japan, as a part of their due deligence on behalf of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). JBIC was to finance the power plant expansion project.

In this study, the entire hydro-thermal power generating system of Uzbekistan was modelled to include existing and committed power generating facilities, and the expected growth in demand for electricity over the next 20 years. The proposed expansion for the Tashkent Power Plant was then included to examine whether there will be economic benefits to the system.

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