Hydropower
How our hydropower engineers protect performance and plan long term
Aging civil works, evolving FERC requirements, generating equipment approaching the end of its design life. Every hydropower facility presents a different combination of challenges, and the owners who stay ahead of them are the ones asking the right questions early. That is where our team comes in. We do not just respond to problems as they surface. We help owners see what is coming, protect their investment, and get the most out of their facility over the long term.
Our engineers, technicians, and environmental experts collaborate to provide effective solutions for hydroelectric projects of every scale. We fully assess and categorize facility assets to help owners make risk-informed, lifecycle investment decisions. From feasibility studies to final design and commissioning, our team provides solutions and specifications for the repair, replacement, and upgrading of existing civil works, generating equipment, and balance of plant systems. When emergencies arise, we provide rapid repair strategies to keep facilities powering the communities that depend on them.
- Asset Management & Lifecycle Planning
- Construction & Commissioning
- Control Building Design
- Dam Breach Inundation Mapping
- Electromechanical Systems Design
- Emergency Action Plans
- Energy Assessments
- Facility, Condition & Environmental Assessments
- FERC & Environmental Permitting
- Fish Ladders & Penstocks
- Flood Control & Spillway Design
- Gates & Structures
- PFMA & Part 12D Inspections
- Risk & Sediment Management
- Safety Assessments & Reclassifications
- Turbine & Generator Inspections
- Water Retaining Structures
Our approach
Hydropower projects demand fluency across structural engineering, mechanical and electrical systems, environmental regulation, and dam safety, often on the same facility at the same time. Our team brings depth in all of those areas, so owners get recommendations that account for the full complexity of their plant. Whether the work involves a FERC relicensing effort, a potential failure modes analysis, a turbine inspection, or a new fish ladder, we approach it the same way: understand the facility, assess risk honestly, and design solutions that fit the owner’s strategy and budget.
Years of in-the-field experience during construction, installation, and commissioning have given our team a vantage point that purely office-based engineers do not have. We understand how designs perform in real operating conditions, and that knowledge shapes every recommendation we make. It is the difference between a solution that looks right on paper and one that works reliably once the water is flowing.
Design and rehabilitation that keeps facilities generating
The civil and mechanical infrastructure of a hydropower plant demands engineering that is both precise and practical. Our design services cover the full range of facility components: control buildings, electromechanical systems, fish ladders and penstocks, gates and structures, flood control and spillway systems, and water retaining structures.
Whether your project involves repairing aging infrastructure, replacing equipment that has reached the end of its useful life, or upgrading systems to improve performance and meet current standards, our engineers develop solutions and specifications that align with how the facility actually operates. That includes designing repairs and upgrades that can be implemented with minimal disruption to generation, because for most owners, downtime is not just inconvenient. It is lost revenue.
Asset management, compliance, and operational support
Behind every well-run hydropower facility is a clear understanding of asset condition, regulatory obligation, and investment priority. Our asset management professionals assess and categorize facility components to give owners that clarity, evaluating remaining useful life and helping shape both near-term maintenance and long-range capital planning. We conduct facility, condition, and environmental assessments, potential failure modes analyses, PFMA and Part 12D inspections, and turbine and generator inspections that drive informed decision-making at every level.
On the regulatory side, our team manages FERC and environmental permitting, dam breach inundation mapping, emergency action plans, safety assessments, and hazard reclassifications. For operators who need day-to-day support, we provide energy assessments, facility performance evaluation, and specifications development tailored to each plant’s operating strategy and budget. That full scope of services, from inspection and assessment to regulatory compliance to operational optimization, is what allows owners to manage their facilities with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
We work with hydroelectric facilities of every scale, from small run-of-river plants to large multi-unit generating stations. Our team has experience across a wide range of facility configurations and owner types, including municipal utilities, private operators, and energy companies.
A PFMA is a structured evaluation of how a dam or hydropower facility could fail, what the warning signs would be, and what monitoring or intervention would reduce the risk. It is a key component of FERC compliance for licensed facilities and a valuable planning tool for owners looking to prioritize capital investments based on actual risk rather than assumption.
Yes. Our team manages FERC and environmental permitting as an integrated part of our hydropower practice. That includes supporting relicensing efforts, preparing environmental documentation, coordinating with regulatory agencies, and ensuring that facility operations remain in compliance with current requirements throughout the process.
We do. When a facility experiences an unexpected failure or damage event, our team provides rapid repair strategies and engineering solutions designed to restore operations as quickly as possible. Our field experience during construction, installation, and commissioning gives us the practical knowledge to develop solutions that can be implemented under pressure.
We assess and categorize every major facility component by condition, remaining useful life, and risk profile. That information gives owners a clear, prioritized view of where investment is needed most, which helps them allocate capital strategically rather than reactively. It also supports conversations with regulators and stakeholders about the long-term health of the facility.
Let’s talk about your next project!
Our multidisciplinary approach to design, combined with a deep understanding of the industry and passion for innovation, has positioned us as leaders consistently delivering outstanding results in shaping the built environment.