standards / manuals / guidelines for small hydro development - AHEC

• Type of plant such as ROR, dam based or canal based. The manpower for the RORplant is more because of the spread of hydraulic structures, the water channel and itsequipment.• The number of shifts/ hours the plant is going to work e.g. one shift or three shift. Aplant with 3 shift working will need more staff than a single shift.• Location of the plant, a remotely located plant will need additional staff for thesupport services such as transport, maintenance of residences etc.This may increase the strength of the remotely located ROR plant. However themanpower can be kept minimum by employing a multidisciplinary force such as anengineer with experience in civil and electromechanical work. Or technician withdriving experience etc. The guiding factor is safety of equipment and manpower.Other method is to employ local labor, during requirement of additional work such asrainy season where inspection of water channel is needed or during annual maintenancework. It will benefit the plant, if these persons are given proper on job training.2.2 SELECTIONMan power required for operation and maintenance shall be selected beforecommercial operation of the plant.• The operation staff shall be selected well in advance preferably during the precommissioningand commissioning of the plant.• The experience of the persons shall be in hydro generating plant, DG plant of a cogenerationplant. An experience on large electrical substation with DG set may beaccepted.• Plant incharge having basic degree/ diploma in electrical with experience in civil andmechanical works is most suitable.• Testing engineer is most important for any generating plant. He should beexperienced engineer familiar with all equipment testing to take decision in case ofany fault on electrical equipment such as generator, transformer and switchgear. Thisbeing a specialized job it may be difficult to get such persons and to hold them assuch can be engaged by group of plants or among the IPPS in the area.• For the technician an ITI certificate with hands on experience in electro-mechanicalwork such as DG plant, electrical installation, hydraulic equipment, electrical panel,PLC panels cabling work etc.• Contractual work such as civil maintenance, welding and fabrication, etc may beawarded on annual basis to keep work force low.2.3 TRAINING OF OPERATION STAFFThe operation staff shall be given training by Sr. Experienced personal and also onsimulator, if available. The training shall be in the area of SHP operation, maintenance, safetyand fire fighting. A training period of three month is necessary for small hydropower plant.• On completion of training the trainee shall be assessed for his skills and capability onactual work in the plant where they will be working.AHEC/MNRE/SHP Standards/ E&M Works – Guidelines for Operation and Maintenance of Small Hydropower Station 74