PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
The Helios Advantage
We Are
A national energy developer with local resources who brings significant experience, a successful track record and a broad network of contacts to every project. Our entrepreneurial, yet locally-minded spirit keeps us committed to making high quality wind energy projects that are beneficial to the community.
What We Do
- Prospecting
- Development
- Contracting
- Financing
- Building
- Operation & Maintenance
Project Development Cycle
Like developing any power project, developing a renewable energy project is a complex process. For a clean energy project to be successful, the many parts of the development process must all come together. Typically, this process can take a number of years.
Site Selection:
At Helios, many factors are evaluated in deciding whether a location is suitable for the clean energy project. We take into account the following considerations:
- Availability and measurement of bankable energy resources over the course of the year, seasonal
- Weather/production patterns, and specific terrain features such as general orientation and slopes availability of sufficient, usable land
- Proximity to utility electrical lines and substations that have room for additional power
- Access to public roads
- Environmental aspects of the site, such as the presence of sensitive species, wetlands or past contamination
- Local, county, and national permitting requirements
- Support of the local community
- Cost of construction at the site, including gradient, and soil conditions
Landowner Agreements
A renewable energy project requires one or more signed land agreements, usually in the form of lease or easement agreements. Helios works closely with each landowner to understand his or her unique circumstances and needs. Typical land agreements have a pre-construction period during which Helios will pursue resource assessment, environmental characterization, permitting, grid connection, power sales, site design and other development activities. If project development is successful, the pre-construction period is followed by project construction and then operations. Under a typical lease agreement, the operations period has an initial term of at least twenty years, with options for the project to extend beyond initial period.
Environmental
Review
Helios conducts environmental reviews at prospective sites in order to ensure that a project is compatible with the local environment. Such reviews help identify any threatened or endangered species or wetlands on the site, any historical or archaeological features of the site, and any previous environmental contamination in or near the site. The results of environmental assessments are used to design projects that minimize potential environmental impacts and to avoid sites where environmental impacts are unacceptable.
Interconnection Studies and Transmission Agreements
During this phase, we explore whether electricity generated by this project be transmitted to the utility grid? Helios conducts electrical engineering studies to confirm that the utility grid can accept additional electricity. We then initiate a formal study process with the electric utility that ultimately results in an agreement to allow the project to connect and transmit electricity into the utility grid.
Permitting
Can the necessary permits be obtained for the project? Helios determines what permits are necessary and what environmental, engineering and other studies are necessary or recommended to address environmental and permitting requirements. Permits may be required from local, county, and national bodies and can include land use, environmental, siting, building and other permits.
Power Purchase Agreements
Is there a utility customer for electricity generated by the project? A reliable and creditworthy power purchaser must be identified. Helios originates long-term power sales agreements with electric utilities or power marketers who purchase the electricity. Helio’s principals have originated and negotiated power sale agreements for many renewable energy projects across Europe, South Africa, and currently working on initial projects in Kenya.
Project Financing
How will financing be arranged? Access to capital is critical for renewable energy projects. Financiers will consider the quality of the project and the project team’s track record in developing and completing successful projects. Helio’s experience encompasses development and construction finance, term loans, and highly structured equity investments. Helio’s principals have been involved in the development, sale, and financing of hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy projects, and have developed strong relationships with a select group of investments banks, financial institutions and energy companies in the financing of power projects.
Equipment Procurement and Construction
What is the best equipment and who is the best contractor to install it? Helios is not affiliated with any single manufacturer of equipment, and this independence allows us to procure the most competitive, reliable, and technically suitable equipment for each project. In addition, we have extensive experience negotiating engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts for renewable power projects, and in working with the major renewable power (EPC) contractors.
OUR DEVELOPMENT CYCLE: From Concept to Operations
ENERGY ENGINEERING SERVICES
Transmission Grid Evaluation
Availability of transmission is as essential to generation project development as the capability of the renewable resource. Without transmission, the energy cannot be delivered and sold to the market. At Helios, we extensively address all the aspects of transmission grid evaluation:
- Generation Export Analysis
- Analysis of transmission deliverability across networks
- Generation Interconnection Feasibility Studies
- Short Circuit and Transient Stability Analysis (System Impact) Studies
- Transmission mapping of resource sites
- Special investigation of transmission grid interconnection solutions
- Review of transmission grid planned upgrades
- Review and impact analysis of queued and other generation projects
- Recommendations on transmission upgrades and additions
- Evaluation of wheeling charges, congestion, and losses
- Estimation of electricity sales price ($/MWhr)
- Analysis of voltage flicker on weak transmission or distribution networks
Generator Grid Interconnection
Helios will assist clients in all stages of the grid interconnection process:
- Applications for Interconnection
- Electrical interconnection system design
- One-line diagrams
- Technical support
- Interface discussions with transmission providers
- Critical review of feasibility and system impact studies
- Review of Interconnection Agreements (IA)
- Responses to Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase of renewable generation
Plant Design / Engineering / Procurement
Helios can act as owner’s engineer for generation developers, overseeing engineering, design and procurement aspects of their projects. We will specifically provide the following services:
- Substation and transmission interconnection one-line diagrams and specifications.
- Collection system design
- Specification documents for design / build contractor bids for: Substations, Power transformers, Electrical Balance of Plant
- Evaluation of bids
Site & Resource Assessment
Site Assessment:
- Site visits and fatal flaw review
- Topographical and transmission maps
- Transmission availability screening
- Other queued and existing project competition overview
Resource Assessment:
- Wind Anemometer procurement and siting
- Anemometer siting
- Setting up communication and data loggers
- Data monitoring
- Analysis of wind measurements using the industry recognized software packages
- Preliminary turbine siting
- Solar PV system panel layout design
- Inverter selection and string sizing
- Analysis of energy production using manufacturer and industry standard tools based on site location and specifications
- Hydrology Review
- Identification of Weir, Canal, Penstock, Powerplant locations
- Analysis of energy production
- Economic and Financial Analyses
Project Engineering Services
Biomass & Biogas Power
- Due diligence
- Feasibility Study
- Interconnection assessment and engineering
- Project management
- Procurement
- Construction management
- Balance-of-plant design
- Tendering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Foundation design
- Civil and structural design/modification
- Permitting
- Plant energy assessment and capacity factor estimate
- Technology evaluation and selection
- Optimized layouts design for higher capacity factor
Solar Power
- Due diligence
- Feasibility Study
- Interconnection assessment and engineering
- Project management
- Procurement
- Construction management
- Balance-of-plant design
- Tendering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Foundation design
- Civil and structural design/modification
- Permitting
- Solar Installation Assessments
- Meteorological data analysis
- Technology evaluation and selection
- Equipment layout and specifications
- Solar site production capability analysis
- Solar plant sizing and phasing
- Review of technical compliance with transmission provider
Wind Power
- Due diligence
- Feasibility Study
- Interconnection assessment and engineering
- Project management
- Procurement
- Construction management
- Balance-of-plant design
- Tendering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Foundation design
- Civil and structural design/modification
- Permitting
- Anemometer procurement
- Anemometer siting
- Setting up communication and data loggers
- Analysis of wind data
- Plant energy assessment and capacity factor estimate
- Technology evaluation and selection
- Optimized layouts design for higher capacity factor
- Turbine siting
- Wind plant sizing and phasing
Hydro Power
- Due diligence
- Feasibility Study
- Interconnection assessment and engineering
- Project management
- Procurement
- Construction management
- Balance-of-plant design
- Tendering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Foundation design
- Civil and structural design/modification
- Permitting
- Anemometer procurement
- Anemometer siting