Power and ElectricalHydropower Plant Operation and Maintenance
Hydropower supplies a large share of electricity across the region and is increasingly operated against hydrological conditions its designers did not anticipate, which changes both dispatch and machine wear. This course covers running it. Delegates work through hydrology, head and flow and their relationship to output, turbine types and the selection and operating range of each, and the waterway from intake through penstock to draft tube. Generator, excitation and governor systems are covered. Cavitation, silt erosion and the damage mechanisms specific to the machines follow. Dam and civil structure monitoring is addressed at an operating level. The course closes on dispatch and reservoir management under drought, and on the safety of water conveyance systems.
Course objectives
- Relate head, flow and hydrology to plant output
- Compare turbine types and their operating ranges
- Operate the waterway from intake through penstock to draft tube
- Maintain generator, excitation and governor systems
- Identify cavitation, silt erosion and machine specific damage
- Monitor dam and civil structures at an operating level
- Manage dispatch and reservoir levels under drought conditions
Who should attend
- Hydropower plant operators and supervisors
- Mechanical and electrical maintenance staff
- Utility generation engineers
- Dam safety and civil monitoring personnel
- Graduate engineers entering hydro generation
Course outline
- 01Operated against conditions the designers did not expect
- 02Hydrology, head and flow
- 03Turbine types and operating ranges
- 04Intake, penstock and draft tube
- 05Generator, excitation and governor systems
- 06Cavitation and silt erosion
- 07Dam and civil structure monitoring
- 08Dispatch, reservoir management and waterway safety
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 to 30 October 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 16 to 20 November 2026 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 14 to 18 December 2026 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | Register Now |
| 11 to 15 January 2027 | Harare, Zimbabwe | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | Register Now |