Nations face mounting challenges in their efforts to secure sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy. Hydropower offers unparalleled potential to achieve national energy security, drive economic growth, and support energy independence. Yet, the traditional approach to developing hydropower projects often falls short.
85% of large-scale hydropower projects run over budget; eroding public trust, delaying ROI and undermining confidence amongst investors and stakeholders. The traditional model for hydropower development is flawed. Covelent employs a battle-tested process that challenges the established archetypes, supporting critical national energy security objectives, and establishing viable methods for energy independence.
Key hydropower strategy questions answered
- How does hydropower fit into our renewable energy strategy?
- What makes a hydropower project commercially viable and politically advantageous?
- How do we select the right sites while minimising risks and maximising potential?
- How can hydropower support national energy security, energy independence, and economic growth?
- What is the best way to engage delivery partners, financiers, and policymakers?
- How can we prevent renewable energy project budgets from overrunning and reduce delays?
Meeting Net Zero
Hydropower plays a pivotal role in enabling the production of green hydrogen, which is expected to meet up to 25% of global energy demand by 2050. By providing a stable and renewable energy source, hydropower ensures the scalability and sustainability of green hydrogen, essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and transport.
This dual contribution to clean energy generation and hydrogen production positions hydropower as a cornerstone of any nation's net zero strategy. The challenge for many is understanding where their starting point is and what potential does hydropower offer. Our hydropower consultants consist of senior strategy experts, seasoned operators from across 106 countries as well as sustainability consultants, engineering experts and policy makers. Leveraging hydropower to meet net zero is often far closer to a reality than you think.
Our approach to hydropower consulting
At Covelent, we believe the key to transforming hydropower lies in rethinking how projects are scoped, evaluated, and executed. Our approach stands apart by prioritising commercial and political dimensions, ensuring projects achieve greater reliability, trust, and economic impact.
A focus beyond engineering
While traditional approaches prioritise technical feasibility, we take a more comprehensive view. Our focus is on the commercial and economic viability of hydropower projects. We carefully scrutinise risks, costs, and stakeholder alignment, ensuring that every project our hydropower consultants engage in delivers tangible, long-term value.
Minimising budget overruns and building trust
Hydropower projects are often plagued by budget overruns, which damage public confidence and strain partnerships. Our distinctive methodology is designed to prevent these issues by:
- Conducting due diligence with private-sector rigour, with a strong emphasis on cost management and risk assessment.
- Aligning project objectives with broader national priorities, including energy independence, economic growth, and geopolitical stability.
- Managing procurement with a structured, transparent process that brings together the right delivery partners, financiers, and policymakers.
Driving results with a proven framework
Our proprietary framework ensures every aspect of the project lifecycle is managed with precision:
- Site Scouting: Using advanced proprietary tools, we can identify thousands of sites with high hydrological potential and commercial promise while ensuring minimal community disruption.
- Due Diligence: Rigorous financial, regulatory, and technical assessments that address risks early and ensure feasibility from every angle.
- End-to-end Advisory Services: A focus on aligning projects with national energy goals, engaging stakeholders, and managing procurement to deliver success and key commercial advantages.
Energy independence in an unstable world
With rising geopolitical instability, tariffs, and disruptions in global energy markets, achieving energy independence has never been more urgent and increasingly no country appears immune. Hydropower offers a pathway to reliable, self-sustaining energy systems that reduce reliance on imports and strengthen national resilience. Our dedicated hydropower consulting expertise ensures that these benefits are fully realised, driving both economic growth and national energy security.
Distinctive advantage
Our hydropower consulting services provide nations and organisations with a clear, crisp and distinctive advantage:
- A Holistic Perspective: Beyond technical and environmental considerations, we address the commercial and political realities that determine a project's success.
- Proven Results: A methodology designed to reduce budget overruns and ensure projects meet their ROI expectations.
- Global Expertise, Local Solutions: Decades of experience in renewable energy allow us to craft solutions tailored to each nation's unique needs.
- Long-Term Impact: Hydropower projects are positioned as critical drivers of national energy security, energy independence, and economic growth.
At Covelent, we are redefining what it means to deliver successful hydropower projects. By applying a structured, commercially focused methodology, we enable nations to unlock the transformative potential of hydropower—sustainably and strategically.
Get in touch to learn how Covelent can guide your hydropower ambitions.
Recent examples of our work
- We supported a national EU member government in conducting a comprehensive scouting exercise and feasibility study to identify high-potential hydropower sites. Our proprietary tools evaluated over 1,200 locations, analysing their hydrological suitability, commercial viability, and alignment with national energy priorities. Resulting in a shortlist of 20 sites, each meeting the criteria for further due diligence. The insights provided enabled the client to prioritise investments, strengthen their renewable energy strategy, and make informed decisions to advance national energy security and economic growth.
