Operation and Maintenance Strategies for Hydropower : Handbook for Practitioners and Decision Makers

The Handbook for practitioners and decision makers seeks to raise awareness among utility managers, decision makers, and other stakeholders of the importance and benefits of developing robust operation and maintenance (OandM) strategies for existing and greenfield hydropower plants. This handbook also aims at providing guidance for owners in preparing and implementing a long-term OandM strategy, defined as an informed set of high-level information (including a diagnosis) and decisions towards effective and safe OandM of hydropower facilities, including (i) objectives to be reached, (ii) activities and organizational decisions to reach these objectives and (iii) adequate resources (human, financial...). Through eight steps, this handbook proposes a framework and processes to establish an OandM strategy adapted to local contexts. It also presents the basic principles of OandM for hydropower and provides examples of the consequences of inadequate OandM policies, programs, and procedures. The handbook was developed along and benefited from the lessons learned of six case-studies in Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Liberia, Uganda, and Uruguay/Argentina and which are depicted in the companion report Operation and Maintenance Strategies for Hydropower: Six Case Studies. They gather examples and lessons learned from the implementation of OandM strategies, while sharing views on remaining challenges and future directions