Welcome to WaRP, NHA’s new Waterpower Research Portal.

This project intends to create new learnings by assessing the extent of the accelerated wear and fatigue caused by increased flexible operation and hydro asset cycling damage mechanisms. The research aims to provide hydro owners and operators with information necessary to make educated decisions for operating regimes and the costs associated with them. This project focuses strictly on the needs of generating equipment used in conventional and pumped-storage hydropower.

There is also an increasing emphasis on the requirement for capital investments in equipment and parts replacement to ensure outage times for equipment repair and maintenance are optimized.Return on investment will need to be protected and enhanced in part by program improvements such as refurbishment or replacement of inefficient units with new high efficiency ones; improvements in the design of intake, flow passage, and tailrace hydraulics; and better tools for measuring productivity improvements achieved with planned initiatives.Further ongoing reductions of capital outlay to ensure the continued production of low cost energy will require the development of improved maintenance and repair techniques. Such techniques are seen as using new processes and materials to extend equipment life. These procedures can speed up the repair process to reduce outage times, while condition assessment, equipment diagnosis, and monitoring can optimize “just in time” maintenance.

The Asset Management Interest Group (AMIG) provides real life examples and direction to implementing Asset Management in hydro-electric utilities. AMIG builds upon work completed by the Asset Management Task Force that was initiated as part of the Hydraulic Plant Life Interest Group in 2011. The group covers all aspects of Asset Management, from the development of policies and strategies, to risk frameworks, asset management plans, and investment management, to achieve strategic objectives. The group considers inputs from all Asset Management standards and the diverse experience of international members to move asset management forward for all members. Topics and projects are user-driven to provide value to members at all stages of the Asset Management journey.