Design and Operation of Hydropower Plants with BIM Digital Technologies

The intricate nature of hydropower plant design and operation, coupled with multiple domains of expertise, regulations, and numerous stakeholders, presents prospects for enhancing quality and cutting overall costs through cooperation and integration. The practical application of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the design and O&M planning stages can significantly contribute to these goals. This chapter’s material is partially based on firsthand observations made while working on an R&D project funded by a consortium of hydropower-producing enterprises. To enhance the quality of the project life cycle as a whole, we plan to draw attention to particular BIM modeling concerns that ought to be considered while designing hydropower components (such as water intakes and powerhouses). The case study is based on the BIM modeling of three built plants to construct a digital twin. These HPPs are in South Brazil: (1) Barra Grande hydropower plant, with an installed capacity of 690 MW; (2) Foz do Chapecó hydropower plant, with an installed capacity of 855 MW; (3) 14 de Julho hydropower plant, with an installed capacity of 100 MW.