Hydropower
DLZ is a one-stop shop for all your hydropower needs. We have a staff of dedicated specialists with proven expertise in all aspects of the hydropower industry, so you can rest assured your project will not only meet, but exceed your expectations. This includes project finance, feasibility studies, detailed design, preparation of plans and specifications, construction management, plant operation, environmental and social accountability, and permit compliance. We have successfully obtained project finance from international banks, private investment funds, and development agencies across the globe. Our offices are located worldwide on three continents. Subsequently, we have established relationships with the world’s leading manufacturers of turbines, generators, control systems, and other electro-mechanical equipment. With this, our goal is to produce clean renewable hydropower energy that is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, it needs to address the social needs of the local communities.
Central and South America
DLZ’s subsidiary in Costa Rica, DLZ Carbon, has extensive experience in hydropower engineering. This ranges from initial site identification, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, basic and detailed design, construction drawings, specifications, construction supervision, owner’s engineer of record, dam surveillance, and dam safety studies.
The experience dates back to 1996 and covers eight countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Guyana, and Colombia. DLZ Carbon has been involved in over 75 hydropower projects in the region. These have a combined installed capacity of over 800 MW in basic studies and preliminary design and of over 600 MW in detailed design. These projects have been developed under the strict environmental regulations of the host countries. They have also incorporated the assessment of seismic risk and seismic-resistant design.
Asia
DLZ’s experience in India is extensive. In fact, we commissioned the first privately owned hydropower plant in India in the state of Maharashtra in 2001. DLZ has designed, built, owns, and operates seven hydropower plants in India through various subsidiaries totaling 73.5 MW. One such project is a unique first-of-its-kind. It is located on the tailrace channel of the cooling water system of a large 1500 MW thermal power plant run by the Central Government of India. Additionally, we have designed and installed hydropower plants with high head using Pelton or Francis turbines to lower head turbines using Kaplan turbines. Plants with high heads have been in challenging rugged terrain, thus requiring substantial civil works. This includes trench weirs for diverting the flow from the stream; desilting basins for removing sediment; open channels; and long tunnel sections for conveying the flow to forebays, penstocks, and powerhouses.
North America
DLZ has conducted detailed investigations related to the feasibility of renovating existing hydropower facilities at several locations in the U.S. We also looked at retrofitting the existing Grigg’s dam in Columbus, Ohio with a new hydropower facility. DLZ has extensive experience in the design and construction of dams and related facilities. In fact, through our predecessor companies, DLZ has been involved in the design and/or rehabilitation of virtually all of the dams in the midwestern United States. We have also had significant dam-related projects with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Miami Conservancy District, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, and various state and local agencies.