Investing in hydropower means investing sustainably, environmentally friendly, economically and socially.

sustainable

eHydro500 aligns its business with sustainability goals and bases its corporate policy on them. We have an ambitious goal and are privileged as a company because - with our work as investment advisor in the hydropower asset class - we ensure the cleanest electricity production and thus contribute significantly to the reduction of harmful greenhouse gases. We actively manage our actions so to achieve several UN goals. eHydro500 has defined 5 of the 17 goals as the basis for its daily and strategic actions.

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Every year around 7 million people die from air pollution. By replacing air polluting with CO2-free energy generation, we are helping to save lives.

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Construction and renovation of hydropower plants with a lifespan of over 100 years that produce 100% renewable and clean energy. Hydropower has one of the lowest LCOE (levelized cost of energy) among renewable energy sources.

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Establishing a sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Supporting innovations for sustainable infrastructure, especially for renewable energies.

Support of cities and communities in their clean energy efforts. Support and participation in smart grid solutions. With our power plants, we ensure a stable energy supply even in remote rural areas.

 

Clean energy production (without CO2 emissions) when operating hydropower plants. Strategies to actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil energy sources.

durable & profitable

Despite the changed situation in electricity prices after the decline in the late 2010s, hydropower is still profitable. The prerequisite is that the plants are well designed for the expected hydrological framework conditions and efficiently designed and implemented. For this purpose, extensive hydrological studies are commissioned with special consideration of the long-term changing climatic conditions, which are then assessed in terms of energy efficiency and form the basis for the correct design (degree of performance) of the plant. To dimension the power plant, the expansion flow rate at which the system achieves the maximum output with the best efficiency is first determined. This is always a compromise between the maximum achievable annual production and the necessary construction costs. The optimum is sought, taking into account all possible influencing factors, including future ones. For example, additional production options might be dispensed to the benefit of operational safety and robust design of a power plant, but in return the risk of malfunctions and failure is reduced or completely avoided. This concentration on the right concept is the essential success factor for long-term efficient operation.

While the necessary operating costs are essentially determined in the concept phase, the optimization of the construction costs also requires an optimal contract awarding and a tightly organized construction process. To ensure safety and quality, eHydro500 usually uses international external experts who ensure compliance with the client's standard and the project-specific ESAP specifications (Environmental and Social Action Plan).

Brownfield plants - older hydropower plants in operation - are special assets. Once the building structure has been built, it can usually be put to good use - hydropower plants therefore generally have a service life of up to 100 years. Upgrades and updates of the electromechanical equipment enable potentials to be raised through higher overall efficiency, controllability and adaptation to the state of the art. In many cases, there is also structural potential that not only opens up previously unused storage options, but can also be used to increase performance.

Every hydropower plant is unique. Despite optimal preparation, surprises can always arise in the course of construction, which can arise from the subsoil risk or other influencing factors. It is important to react optimally to such requirements in an adequate manner.

The operational operation of a plant itself is almost exclusively fully automatic, i.e. the running costs for electricity production are low. This is not least because no raw materials are consumed by hydropower and consequently no primary energy costs are incurred.

The average service life of the systems is 80 to over 100 years, with many plants exceeding this statistical service life with regular professional maintenance and partial replacement of electromechanical parts. The prerequisite for efficient long-term operation is an optimal concept and design, as well as proper execution of the plants according to international standards and using equipment from well-known manufacturers.

In the field of small and medium-sized hydropower plants, important components such as turbines or generators can be used with a high degree of efficiency for up to 60 years if properly maintained. Even the electronic systems such as controls only have to be replaced after several decades, mostly for reasons of increasing efficiency or to adapt to the state of the art. Also impressive is the high efficiency (ratio of delivered to added energy) of hydropower plants, which with a value between 65% and 88% corresponds to all other technologies (wind, solar, thermal power plants, etc.), whose efficiencies mostly only between 30% and 40% % lie in the shade.

climate neutral, ecological & social

Hydropower is a CO2-free renewable power source. The resource water in the eternal cycle of weather events ensures that power plants can be operated without harmful emissions.

In the case of power plants of up to 50 megawatts, the structural interventions in nature are minor. eHydro500 focuses on high-pressure systems in which the energy produced is mainly obtained from the height of fall, the difference in height between the weir system and the power house in which the turbines are located (amount of water x height of fall x efficiency = energy produced). These systems are mostly located on small watercourses and are carefully embedded in nature. Essential parts of the system are buried below the ground level. As a result, these components are barely visible after renaturation.

In the design and operation of the power plants, we are guided by the IFC Performance Standards. Preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystems is an essential part of what we do.

The general quality of life of the population is significantly improved by the construction of hydropower plants in countries with poor infrastructure. The often poorly developed electrical infrastructure leads to line losses and instability of the networks, especially in rural areas. This situation can be improved by decentralized hydropower plants. This is because feed-in in remote areas contributes to network stability and thus improve local security of supply. Negative effects such as resettlement of people do not occur in small and medium-sized hydropower plants.

Another socially positive effect of hydropower is the extensive construction activity, which is achieved by awarding contracts to local companies for the construction and operation of the power plants.

This creates local employment, especially during the construction of a hydropower plant and during its operation.

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