In today's markets, reducing costs and optimizing the production of installed capacity is essential. Incremental capacity or production from an existing asset is always the cheapest energy that can be produced. To ensure that an asset’s potential is fully realized as the unit ages, environmental regulations change and competition increases, asset managers need to assess the current status and latent potential in their portfolio. To this market, Sigma brings all the required resources to respond to our clients needs.
Sigma’s Asset Optimization strategy is founded on the principle that the specific program that a plant or fleet owner adopts to ascertain whether and to what extent their plants should be upgraded to extend their life in the most cost/beneficial way is driven by the owner’s unique needs and objectives. These needs and objectives are generally driven by business strategies, and as such, the goals and objectives for each plant owner will differ. Sigma's approach to supplying solutions to these needs is based on a build-up approach wherein various phases of an assessment are entered into depending on the depth of study required by the owner and the need for resources outside of the owner’s organization to accomplish the assessment.
Asset Optimization Strategies
Formulate strategies to improve returns through asset optimization:
- Equipment efficiency upgrades to increase capacity, improve operational flexibility and reduce emissions
- Repowering and conversion strategies
- Enhance exit strategies
Asset Integration (Transition Strategies)
- For management team and portfolio acquisitions, support integration to an optimized platform, through strategy development and business processes review and improvements
- Restructure contracts to enhance economics and reduce risk
- Review of interfaces including transmission and inter-connections
- Analyze PPA, off take and fuel supply options
- Review of financing options
Energy Assessments
- Improve operating plant efficiency by establishing a baseline thermal efficiency, identifying performance constraints, developing actionable steps to recover performance, and monitoring performance to assure success
Reliability Assessments
- Modelling equipment/system failure history
- Determining baseline plant availability
- Assessing impacts of maintenance investments
- Creating an optimal investment plan
Environmental Upgrade Strategies
- Assess applicable and evolving environmental regulations
- Identify environmental risks and mitigants
- Perform cost-benefit analysis of viable solutions