Hydropower Cost Estimation Calculator

Hydropower Cost Estimation Calculator estimates the total and annualized costs of a hydropower project, including construction, operation and maintenance, and equipment replacement costs, with a detailed breakdown and step-by-step calculations.

Dam Height (m, e.g., 50):

Turbine Capacity (kW, e.g., 1000):

Base Construction Cost ($, e.g., 1000000):

Linear Cost Coefficient ($/m, e.g., 50000):

Quadratic Cost Coefficient ($/m², e.g., 1000):

Cost per Unit Power ($/kW, e.g., 2000):

Annual O&M Cost Fraction (e.g., 0.02 for 2%):

Equipment Cost Fraction (e.g., 0.5 for 50%):

Replacement Interval (years, e.g., 20):

Project Lifetime (years, e.g., 50):

Formulas Used in Hydropower Cost Estimation Calculator

The calculator uses the following formulas to estimate project costs:

Construction Cost:

\\[ C_{\text{const}} = c_0 + c_1 h + c_2 h^2 + c_p P \\]

Annual O&M Cost:

\\[ C_{\text{O&M}} = f_{\text{O&M}} \cdot C_{\text{const}} \\]

Total Replacement Cost:

\\[ C_{\text{replace}} = f_{\text{equip}} \cdot c_p \cdot P \cdot \left\lfloor \frac{L}{T_{\text{replace}}} \right\rfloor \\]

Total Project Cost:

\\[ C_{\text{total}} = C_{\text{const}} + C_{\text{replace}} + C_{\text{O&M}} \cdot L \\]

Annualized Total Cost:

\\[ C_{\text{annual}} = \frac{C_{\text{const}} + C_{\text{replace}}}{L} + C_{\text{O&M}} \\]

Where:

\$ C_{\text{const}} \$: Construction cost ($)
\$ c_0 \$: Base construction cost ($)
\$ c_1 \$: Linear cost coefficient ($/m)
\$ c_2 \$: Quadratic cost coefficient ($/m²)
\$ h \$: Dam height (m)
\$ c_p \$: Cost per unit power ($/kW)
\$ P \$: Turbine capacity (kW)
\$ C_{\text{O&M}} \$: Annual O&M cost ($/year)
\$ f_{\text{O&M}} \$: O&M cost fraction
\$ C_{\text{replace}} \$: Total replacement cost ($)
\$ f_{\text{equip}} \$: Equipment cost fraction
\$ L \$: Project lifetime (years)
\$ T_{\text{replace}} \$: Replacement interval (years)
\$ C_{\text{total}} \$: Total project cost ($)
\$ C_{\text{annual}} \$: Annualized total cost ($/year)

Example Calculations

Example 1: Small-Scale Project

Input: Dam Height = 10 m, Turbine Capacity = 100 kW, Base Cost = $500,000, Linear Cost = $20,000/m, Quadratic Cost = $500/m², Cost per kW = $2,000, O&M Fraction = 0.02, Equipment Fraction = 0.5, Replacement Interval = 20 years, Lifetime = 50 years

\\[ C_{\text{const}} = 500000 + 20000 \cdot 10 + 500 \cdot 10^2 + 2000 \cdot 100 = 950,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{O&M}} = 0.02 \cdot 950000 = 19,000 \ \$/\text{year} \\] \\[ C_{\text{replace}} = 0.5 \cdot 2000 \cdot 100 \cdot \left\lfloor \frac{50}{20} \right\rfloor = 100,000 \ \cdot 2 = 200,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{total}} = 950000 + 200000 + 19000 \cdot 50 = 2,100,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{annual}} = \frac{950000 + 200000}{50} + 19000 = 42,000 \ \$/\text{year} \\]

Result: Construction Cost = $950,000, O&M Cost = $19,000/year, Replacement Cost = $200,000, Total Cost = $2,100,000, Annualized Cost = $42,000/year

Example 2: Medium-Scale Project

Input: Dam Height = 50 m, Turbine Capacity = 1000 kW, Base Cost = $1,000,000, Linear Cost = $50,000/m, Quadratic Cost = $1,000/m², Cost per kW = $2,500, O&M Fraction = 0.025, Equipment Fraction = 0.6, Replacement Interval = 25 years, Lifetime = 40 years

\\[ C_{\text{const}} = 1000000 + 50000 \cdot 50 + 1000 \cdot 50^2 + 2500 \cdot 1000 = 6,000,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{O&M}} = 0.025 \cdot 6000000 = 150,000 \ \$/\text{year} \\] \\[ C_{\text{replace}} = 0.6 \cdot 2500 \cdot 1000 \cdot \left\lfloor \frac{40}{25} \right\rfloor = 1,500,000 \ \cdot 1 = 1,500,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{total}} = 6000000 + 1500000 + 150000 \cdot 40 = 13,500,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{annual}} = \frac{6000000 + 1500000}{40} + 150000 = 337,500 \ \$/\text{year} \\]

Result: Construction Cost = $6,000,000, O&M Cost = $150,000/year, Replacement Cost = $1,500,000, Total Cost = $13,500,000, Annualized Cost = $337,500/year

Example 3: Large-Scale Project

Input: Dam Height = 100 m, Turbine Capacity = 10000 kW, Base Cost = $5,000,000, Linear Cost = $100,000/m, Quadratic Cost = $2,000/m², Cost per kW = $3,000, O&M Fraction = 0.015, Equipment Fraction = 0.7, Replacement Interval = 30 years, Lifetime = 60 years

\\[ C_{\text{const}} = 5000000 + 100000 \cdot 100 + 2000 \cdot 100^2 + 3000 \cdot 10000 = 45,000,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{O&M}} = 0.015 \cdot 45000000 = 675,000 \ \$/\text{year} \\] \\[ C_{\text{replace}} = 0.7 \cdot 3000 \cdot 10000 \cdot \left\lfloor \frac{60}{30} \right\rfloor = 21,000,000 \ \cdot 2 = 42,000,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{total}} = 45000000 + 42000000 + 675000 \cdot 60 = 127,500,000 \ \$ \\] \\[ C_{\text{annual}} = \frac{45000000 + 42000000}{60} + 675000 = 2,125,000 \ \$/\text{year} \\]

Result: Construction Cost = $45,000,000, O&M Cost = $675,000/year, Replacement Cost = $42,000,000, Total Cost = $127,500,000, Annualized Cost = $2,125,000/year

Formulas Used in Hydropower Cost Estimation Calculator

Example Calculations

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