This study will examine a strategy for evaluating energy storage projects by integrating valuation metrics from finance and the energy sector. Uncertainty is one of the key barriers to investment in the energy sector (Shimbar & Ebrahimi, 2017, p. 349) and therefore financial modeling that allows comprehensive valuation of energy investment is necessary (Berrada, 2022, p. 407). The purpose of the study is to propose a strategy for evaluating energy storage projects that applies to investors and decision makers.  LCOS is a necessary component of energy storage project valuation, as it considers both the financial and technical performance of energy storage systems (ESS). Existing research in the field has contradictory opinions regarding the usefulness of LCOS and traditional financial valuation models for investment decisions in the energy storage sector. Few studies have combined modeling from the financial and energy sector. The authors have identified a need to introduce an investor perspective to business research in the energy storage sector. The authors conduct an explorative mixed-method study with an underlying non-positivist philosophical position. The case study design includes creation of five hypothetical energy storage projects to simulate an investment scenario. The authors utilize a point-base system to integrate valuation models from the energy and financial sectors, which include NPV, IRR, payback period, LCOS and technological maturity. Experts in the field provide input for which metrics are emphasized by practitioners. The projects are ranked based on stand-alone metrics, an integrated model and expert opinion. The results indicate that integrating numerous valuation metrics is necessary for analyzing and comparing energy storage investments. The financial viability of projects change based on individual metrics and integrated financial models. Furthermore, the results indicate that LCOS should be reinforced by financial indicators when making investment decisions. The expert input shows that investors emphasize valuation metrics differently, which indicates that the economic attractiveness of energy storage projects varies among investors. IRR is used by practitioners as a primary indicator for profitability. Future research should investigate a method for including sustainability indicators in the valuation process. Furthermore, as data accessibility is an issue in the field of study, future studies should collaborate with practitioners to generate more secondary data sources. Lastly, the impact of discount rates, risk premiums and investor preferences should be researched to better understand investment in the sector.

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Bakgrund: I och med den ständiga utvecklingen beträffande hanteringen av internaprocesser har automatisering av aktiviteter för lager- och materialhantering ökat. Maskiner som verkar automatiskt benämns som Automated Guided Vehicles, vilket förkortas AGV, därdess utökade användningsområde inom interna processer har ökat avsevärt. Innebörden av AGV-system har genererat omfattande förbättringar av prestanda, däribland produktivitetsförbättringar. Grunden till produktivitetsförbättringarna innefattas av aspektersom att reducering av flaskhalsar samt att nedskärning vid beroende av mänsklig hantering. Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att studera möjligheter och utmaningar avseende om det är aktuellt för Atea Logistics AB med en implementering av ett AGV-system för interna processer ideras internlogistikområde. Därutöver är syftet att analysera och presentera vilka förutsättningar som kan påverka lönsamheten för en distributör vid en implementering av ett AGV-system för interna processer i verksamhetens interna logistikområde. Metod: Metodvalen i studien grundar sig i ett kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt till studiensinledande forskningsfråga. Därefter har en kvantitativ forskningsmetod applicerats för att tillämpa uppsatsens andra forskningsfråga. Med avsikt att erhålla en bred omfattning beträffande datainsamlingen har både primär- respektive sekundärdata inhämtats. För att skapa ett välgrundat resultat har det teoretiska materialet studerats i förhållande till det empiriska underlaget. Resultat: Baserat på ett flertal variabler för prestanda diskuteras implementeringen av ett AGV-system hos Atea utifrån lönsamhet. Resultatet visade att det finns flera utmaningar samt möjligheter vid genomförandet av implementeringen, dock visar slutsatsen att det inte är genomförbart för Atea att implementera ett AGV-system med de resurser de har i nuläget. Med utgångspunkt i att studera lönsamheten för liknande distributionsföretag beträffande implementering av ett AGV-system visade det att variabler i form av lönekostnader,investeringskostnaden, transporttid för bingar och väntetid är aspekter som är nödvändigt att ta i beaktning vid investeringen. / Background: With the constant evolution of the management of internal processes, the automation of warehouse and material handling activities has increased. Machines that operate automatically are referred to as Automated Guided Vehicles, abbreviated as AGVs, where their extended use in internal processes has increased significantly. The adoption of AGV systems has generated widespread improvements in performance, including productivity improvements. The basis for productivity improvements includes aspects such as reducing bottlenecks and cutting dependence on human handling.  Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to study opportunities and challenges regarding whether it is relevant for Atea Logistics AB to implement an AGV system for internal processes in their internal logistics area. In addition, the purpose is to analyze and present the conditions that can affect the profitability of a distributor when implementing an AGV system for internal processes in the company's internal logistics area.  Method: The basis for the methodological choices of the study relates to a qualitative approach to the initial research question of the study. Subsequently, a quantitative research method has been applied to address the second research question of the paper. In order to obtain a broad scope of data collection, both primary and secondary data have been collected. In order to create a well-founded result, the theoretical material has been studied in relation to the empirical data.  Results: Based on several performance variables, the implementation of an AGV-system at Atea is discussed in terms of profitability. The results revealed several challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation. However, the conclusion is that it is not profitable for Atea to implement an AGV-system with the resources they have today.  Based on studying the profitability of similar distribution companies regarding the implementation of an AGV-system, it was found that variables such as labor costs, investment costs, bin transport time and waiting time are aspects that are crucial to consider regarding the investment.

近年來，電動車與電動機車發展及應用儼然已成為世界潮流，在機車密度極高且擁有「機車王國」稱號的台灣，電動機車技術日新月異，也發展出多樣化商業模式，其中最著名莫過於電動機車電池租賃商業模式，以及共享商業模式。 本研究旨在利用成本效益分析中的淨現值法及益本比法，模擬分析機車使用者以電動機車代替傳統燃油機車，為使用者自己及整體社會帶來之淨現值。在電動機車方面，本研究分析兩種電動機車商業模式，分別為「電動機車電池租賃商業模式」及「共享電動機車商業模式」。 本研究結果顯示，在使用者立場下，目前電動機車成本依舊大於傳統125C.C.燃油機車之成本，且「電動機車電池租賃商業模式」較適合每個月騎乘里程較長之使用者，而「共享電動機車商業模式」較適合每個月騎乘里程較短之使用者。此外，敏感度分析顯示出，在「電動機車電池租賃商業模式」下，騎乘里程長度與NPV及BCR均呈現正相關。在「共享電動機車商業模式」下，每個月騎乘里程為100公里之使用者，在共享電動機車計價方式為每分鐘2.25元之方案下，使用者之NPV>0及BCR>1，並且騎乘里程越短之使用者，其對共享電動機車計價變動的益本比敏感程度越高(當價格下降時，益本比上升較高)。 最後，在整體社會立場下，利用「電動機車電池租賃商業模式」替換傳統燃油機車且騎乘里程越高之使用者，對整體社會帶來之淨現值越高。而利用「共享電動機車商業模式」替換傳統燃油機車且騎乘里程越低之使用者，越具有經濟效益。 / In recent years, the development and application of electric vehicles and electric scooters have become popuplar. In Taiwan, where scooter density is very high and is also called a "scooter kingdom", electric scooter technology is not only improving, but also developing a diversified business model. Particularly, two of the most famous business models are “Electric scooter battery rental business model” and “Sharing electric scooter business model”. The purpose of this study is to use the net present value method and the benefit ratio method in the cost-benefit analysis. We analysis the user's own benefits and the overall social net benefits which are generated from the scooter users replacing traditional fuel scooter with electric scooter. In the field of electric scooters, this study analyzes two business models of electric scooters, “Electric scooter battery rental business model” and “Sharing electric scooter business model”. According to the simulation result of empirical analysis, for the users, the current cost of electric scooters is still higher than the cost of traditional 125C.C. fuel scooters. “Electric scooter battery rental business model” is more suitable for people who have higher accumulated distance per month, and “Sharing electric scooter business model” is more suitable for people who have lower accumulated distance per month . On the other hand, according to the result of sensitivity analysis, the accumulated distance is positively correlated with NPV and BCR in the “Electric scooter battery rental business model”. In the “Sharing electric scooter business model”, those who ride 100 km per month have NPV> 0 and BCR> 1 in the pricing of NT$2.25 per minute. Besides, those who ride 100 km per month have higher sensitivity of pricing. For the overall society, those who use the "Electric scooter battery rental business model" to replace the traditional fuel scooter and have higher accumulated distance per month can generate higher net benefits to the whole society. Those who use the "Sharing electric scooter business model" to replace the traditional fuel scooter and have lower accumulated distance per month can generate higher net benefits to the whole society.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T18:40:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rubens Cusnir.pdf: 979028 bytes, checksum: 7e9e285f3952b163371bfc28325df8ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-21 / The present study aimed to suggest the use of different methods that can help decision makers to evaluate financial investment to be made in the setting up of a particular business venture. The business involves the acquisition, deployment and operation of a health service franchise that is presented to the consumer market in the form of a fitness center oriented and specialized in elderly people. The circumstances offered as investment alternatives in the economic environment that presents real interest rates much lower than those offered to investors in the early 2000s are taken into account, in parallel with the strengthening of the franchises as a thriving productive investment option, with strong growth seen in the last 10 years. The formal and commercial peculiarities of the relationship between franchisees and franchisors, with the possible difficulties and perceived conflicts in the management of these interests are also studied. Medical health market services and the recent awareness for the need for physical activities in all ages are described in addition to the prospect of increased longevity and quality of life in the elderly due to adoption of physical activities. For investment evaluation purposes, methods of Break-Even point, Payback, Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return are applied, calculated and discussed from a practical case, with real and contemporary data. The study is based on the outcome of these calculations and on their real utility. Suggestions and topics to be addressed in further studies are also provided / O objetivo deste trabalho é sugerir a utilização de diferentes métodos que possam auxiliar um tomador de decisão na avaliação de um investimento financeiro a ser feito na constituição de um empreendimento comercial. O referido empreendimento é composto pela aquisição, implantação e operação de uma franquia de serviços em saúde que se apresenta ao mercado consumidor na forma de uma academia de ginástica voltada e especializada no atendimento do público da terceira idade. São levadas em consideração as circunstâncias atuais oferecidas como alternativas de investimento, num cenário econômico que apresenta taxas de juros reais muito inferiores àquelas oferecidas aos investidores no início dos anos 2.000, em paralelo ao fortalecimento das franquias como uma pujante opção de investimento produtivo, com forte crescimento evidenciado nos últimos 10 anos. Também são estudadas as peculiaridades da relação entre franqueados e franqueadores, do ponto de vista formal e comercial, junto às possíveis dificuldades e conflitos percebidos na gestão desta conjunção de interesses. São descritos o mercado de prestação de serviços em saúde e a recente conscientização a respeito da necessidade de atividades físicas para todas as idades, além da perspectiva do aumento da longevidade e da qualidade de vida dos idosos com a adoção destas práticas esportivas em seu cotidiano. Para efeito de avaliação de investimentos, são descritos os métodos de Ponto de Equilíbrio, Payback, Valor Presente Líquido e Taxa Interna de Retorno, aplicados, calculados e comentados a partir de um caso prático, com dados reais e contemporâneos. O estudo é concluído com base no resultado destes cálculos e a análise da conveniência de suas utilizações, junto a sugestões de aprofundamento dos temas a serem abordados em novos estudos

Ce travail propose de nouvelles méthodes d’évaluation d’indicateurs de risque associés à une stratégie d’investissements, en vue d’une optimisation robuste de la maintenance d’un parc de composants. La quantification de ces indicateurs nécessite une modélisation rigoureuse de l’évolution stochastique des durées de vie des composants soumis à maintenance. Pour ce faire, nous proposons d’utiliser des processus markoviens déterministes par morceaux, qui sont généralement utilisés en Fiabilité Dynamique pour modéliser des composants en interaction avec leur environnement. Les indicateurs de comparaison des stratégies de maintenance candidates sont issus de la Valeur Actuelle Nette (VAN). La VAN représente la différence entre les flux financiers associés à une stratégie de référence et ceux associés à une stratégie de maintenance candidate. D’un point de vue probabiliste, la VAN est la différence de deux variables aléatoires dépendantes, ce qui en complique notablement l’étude. Dans cette thèse, les méthodes de Quasi Monte Carlo sont utilisées comme alternatives à la méthode de Monte Carlo pour la quantification de la loi de la VAN. Ces méthodes sont dans un premier temps appliquées sur des exemples illustratifs. Ensuite, elles ont été adaptées pour l’évaluation de stratégie de maintenance de deux systèmes de composants d’une centrale de production d’électricité. Le couplage de ces méthodes à un algorithme génétique a permis d’optimiser une stratégie d’investissements. / This work proposes new assessment methods of risk indicators associated with an investments plan in view of a robust maintenance optimization of a fleet of components. The quantification of these indicators requires a rigorous modelling of the stochastic evolution of the lifetimes of components subject to maintenance. With that aim, we propose to use Piecewise Deterministic Markov Processes which are usually used in Dynamic Reliability for the modelling of components in interaction with their environment. The comparing indicators of candidate maintenance strategies are derived from the Net Present Value (NPV). The NPV stands for the difference between the cumulated discounted cash-flows of both reference and candidate maintenance strategies. From a probabilistic point of view, the NPV is the difference between two dependent random variables, which complicates its study. In this thesis, Quasi Monte Carlo methods are used as alternatives to Monte Carlo method for the quantification of the NPV probabilistic distribution. These methods are firstly applied to illustrative examples. Then, they were adapted to the assessment of maintenance strategy of two systems of components of an electric power station. The coupling of these methods with a genetic algorithm has allowed to optimize an investments plan.

Com a intensificação da competitividade do mercado, empresas que realizam escolhas equivocadas podem comprometer significativamente sua atuação. Portanto, para se destacar dentre as demais, decisões não mais podem ser intuitivas e perdas tornam-se inadmissíveis. Sob o aspecto financeiro, a análise apropriada de projetos de investimento é fundamental para o crescimento solidificado da firma. Quando questionados sobre a implantação de determinado projeto, gestores adeptos de diferentes métodos de análise de investimento tendem a tomar a mesma decisão. Porém, ao depararem-se com uma diversidade de projetos de investimento, métodos usuais de análise de investimento causam divergências, conturbando o processo decisório. Ao priorizar algum projeto de investimento, aparentemente atraente economicamente, em detrimento de outros, a firma pode vir a sofrer prejuízos financeiros, decorrentes de características relevantes desconsideradas pelos métodos usualmente utilizados. A partir da análise crítica de métodos determinísticos, métodos que apreciam a incerteza e métodos que consideram a flexibilidade dos projetos, tornou-se factível a retificação da tomada de decisão na comparação entre investimentos. Assim, adequações dos métodos usuais de análise de investimento foram apresentadas como forma de conduzir a resultados mais eficientes. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho desenvolve os conceitos de valor presente líquido equivalente (VPLE) e taxa interna de retorno equivalente (TIRE), como métodos determinísticos voltados exclusivamente para a tomada de decisão diante de diversas opções de investimento. Em seguida, com a flexibilização de tais conceitos, determina-se o conceito de opções reais equivalentes como principal ferramenta para a comparação parametrizada de projetos de investimento. Para a verificação de sua contribuição na análise econômica, um estudo de caso foi realizado e seus resultados comparados com aqueles esperados pelos métodos tradicionais. Logo, concluiu-se que, ao avaliar projetos sob as mesmas condições de contorno, diferentes ferramentas levam a semelhantes resultados. Porém, a parametrização das variáveis e a flexibilização permitida pelas opções reais equivalentes adicionam valor ao investimento e, conseqüentemente, à empresa. / Considering the increasing level of competition of many markets, companies that take wrong decision choices for their businesses may compromise its performances. Therefore, in order to reach better performance than its competitors, the decisions should not be based on intuition and unnecessary losses become unacceptable. Under the financial scope, the appropriate analysis of investment projects is essential to promote a solidified growth of a firm. When asked about the implementation of some project, managers that make use of different methods of investment analysis tend to take the same decision choice. However, when the situation involves a variety of investment projects, the usual methods of investment analysis can imply in different results, disturbing the decision process. When any investment project considered apparently more economically attractive is put up front in any company\'s choice, the ones that are taking this decision may suffer financial losses due to some important issues not considered by the usually methods used. By using a critical analysis of deterministic methods, methods that assess the uncertainty and methods that consider some flexibility of projects, it becomes of major importance to apply some decision-making process to compare the possibilities of investment projects. So, some arrangements in the usual methods of analysis of investment were presented in order to reach more efficient goals. That is the reason that this research development the concepts of equivalent net present value (ENPV) and equivalent internal rate of return (EIRR), as deterministic methods used exclusively to the decision making with a variety of investment projects. After this, with the flexibility of this concepts, it is established the concept of equivalent real options as it main tool to make a parameterized comparison of investment projects. To prove its contribution to the economic analysis techniques, it was set an application of the proposed methodology and its results were compared to the ones obtained if the traditional methods. Therefore, this paper work got the conclusion that, if analyzed investment projects under the same conditions, different tools generate similar results. However, the same parameters and the flexibility given if used Equivalent Real Options adds value to investment and, consequently, to the company.

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate different repowering alternatives from the viewpoint of increasing power production from existing offshore wind farms (OWF), as some of the first commissioned OWFs are approaching the end of their expected lifetime. The thesis presents a literature review of components and financial aspects that are of importance for repowering of OWFs. In the literature review, risks and uncertainties regarding repowering are also lifted and analysed. The thesis contains a case study on Horns Rev 1 OWF, where three different repowering scenarios are evaluated by technical and financial performance, aiming to compare the cost of repowering alternatives. The design of the case study is based around previous studies of offshore repowering having focused mainly on achieving the lowest possible levelized cost of energy (LCoE) and highest possible capacity factor, often resulting in suggested repowering utilizing smaller wind turbines than the existing ones. In order to evaluate the financial viability of repowering alternatives, the software RETScreen Expert was used to estimate the annual energy production (AEP) after losses and calculate the net present value (NPV) and LCoE for lifetime extension and full repowering utilizing different capacity wind turbines. Input values from the literature as well as real wind resource measurements from the site was utilized to achieve as accurate results as possible. The result of the case study shows that repowering of OWFs have the possibility of providing a very strong business case with all scenarios resulting in a positive NPV as well as lower LCoE than the benchmarked electricity production price. Although the initial investment cost of the different repowering alternatives presented in this thesis still are uncertain to some extent, due to the lack of reliable costs for repowering alternatives, this thesis provides a base for further research regarding the repowering of OWFs.

台灣為海島型國家，因自有能源貧乏，99%以上的能源仰賴國外進口。為確保能源供給之穩定與安全，除發展再生能源之外，提高能源終端使用效率為重要之解決手段。熱泵系統因其獨特之節能減碳效果，在歐美先進國家備受重視，極力推廣。基此，考量台灣氣候類型及居住型態，評估熱泵熱水系統的適用性及成本效益分析，爰為本研究之動機與目的。 為了彰顯應用熱泵系統在不同地區氣候條件與能源價格之差異，本研究將台灣劃分為12個地區，並且以電能、LPG桶裝瓦斯、NG管線瓦斯三種現有之住宅用熱水系統作為可供替代之選項，利用迴避成本(Avoided Cost)推估台灣各地區住宅部門改採熱泵熱水系統之成本效益。此外，參考歐美先進國家熱泵系統補助政策，以及台灣現有「太陽能熱水系統推廣獎勵措施」之政府政策補助方案，設定各相關參數，俾模擬政府補貼方案情境下之成本效益分析。 分析結果以淨現值(Net Present Value)、益本比(Benefit-Cost Ratio)及折現回收期(Discounted Payback Period )呈現，結論可從兩個觀點之檢定加以評估。其一、以「參與者檢定」評估是否有足夠的經濟誘因，促使住宅用戶裝設熱泵熱水系統。其二、以「總資源成本檢定」，評估推廣熱泵系統對於整體社會是否具有淨效益。 本研究中全台12個地區，若以熱泵系統取代電能熱水系統、LPG瓦斯熱水系統、NG瓦斯熱水系統三種既有設備，交叉比對之33個替代方案，由「參與者檢定」之結果顯示，所有替代方案之益本比均大於1.1；折現回收期最長達11.3年，最短僅3.2年。若模擬政府補助18,000名用戶採用熱泵系統，則「總資源成本檢定」之結果中，所有替代方案之益本比介乎1至1.73之間；折現回收期最長達14.9年，最短僅5.4年；住宅部門以熱泵替代現有電能、LPG瓦斯、NG瓦斯熱水系統至少可降低碳排放量每年2,707公噸。三種替代類別中以電能熱水系統替代方案益本比最高(介乎1.55至1.73)；LPG瓦斯替代方案之益本比居次(介乎1.19至1.28)；NG瓦斯替代方案益本比最低(介乎1.0至1.06)。全台12個地區考量環境溫度差異之影響以南投分區改採熱泵系統的益本比最高(電能替代1.73、LPG瓦斯替代1.28、NG瓦斯替代1.06)，屏東分區的益本比為最低(電能替代1.55、LPG瓦斯替代1.19、NG瓦斯替代1.0)。 若考量熱泵系統市場滲透率，以熱泵取代NG瓦斯熱水系統之市佔率達5%、20%、50%時，台灣整體社會的淨現值分別為251百萬元、1,006百萬元與2,514百萬元，且每年可減少碳排放量27,169公噸、108,675公噸以及271,687公噸。 / As an island country, 99% energy supply in Taiwan depends on importation due to the very limited endogenous energy. In order to maintain both energy security and stability, improving energy efficiency of consumer end-use is an important government policy. Heat pump systems have been widely applied and strongly promoted in Europe and United State for its uniquely energy saving and CO2 reducing capability. Therefore, the motivation of this study is to access the regional applicability of heat pump water heating system for Taiwan’s climate and residential building types by cost-benefit analysis method. To demonstrate the regional difference of climatic conditions and energy prices heat pump application, Taiwan is divided in twelve regions with three kinds of alternative residential water heating systems (i.e. electric heating, LPG tank heating, and NG pipe heating). Under these conditions, we utilize the avoided cost method to access itemized costs and benefits of heat pump water heating systems in various regional families in Taiwan. In addition, referring to heat pump incentive scheme in advanced European countries and North America while considering solar water heating systems incentive policy in Taiwan, we also simulate variation of parameters (such as cash rebate subside, total residential heat pump user numbers )of heat pump system subsidy program. The outcome of cost-benefit analysis is presented in a form as net present value (NPV), benefit-cost ratio (BCR), and discounted payback period (DP). The results could be analyzed by test from two different perspectives including Participant Test (PCT) from participant perspective and Total Resource Cost Test (TRC) from overall sociality perspective. All of the 33 alternative programs constituted by 12 regions with electric , LPG and NG systems, for PCT, BCR, all 33 alternative programs are greater than 1.1; DP are between 3.2 to 11.3 years. For TRC, BCR, all 33 alternative programs are greater than 1 but less than 1.73; DP are between 5.4 to 14.9 years. Residential building adopting heat pump could reduce 2,707 tons carbon emissions annually. For the three types of alternative system, BCR of electric heating alternative program is the largest and NG alternative program being the least. For all of the 12 regions, BCR of Nantou region is the largest for adopting heat pump while BCR of Pingtung region is the smallest. NPV of overall Taiwan with market penetration reaching 5%, 20% and 50% substitution rate from heat pump system to NG water heating system are 251 million NT$, 1,006 million NT$, and 2,514 million NT$ respectively. Carbon emissions reduce 27,169 tons, 108,675 tons and 271,687 tons annually.

Energy is central to economic development. It has been established that there is a clear correlation between energy consumption and living standards. Nigeria is a country of very industrious and enterprising people. However, due to non availability of adequate energy in the country, especially in the remote, off grid locations, the entrepreneurial inclination of the average Nigerian living in these locations has been largely stunted. Over the years, successive governments in the country, in realisation of the pivotal role of energy in national development, have explored various options to improve energy supply and availability, but the situation has not experienced any remarkable improvement. This has forced many businesses and households to resort to self provision through generators, often at exorbitant costs. This research work addresses the challenge of energy in remote, off grid locations by appraising the techno economic potential of renewable energy, using Obudu Ranch as a case study. This ranch is the foremost tourism resort in Nigeria, and has played host to a number of international events over the years. Presently, electricity is being generated through the use of diesel powered generating sets. The adjoining communities are currently without electricity, although a few of the residents have acquired generators for self provision, mostly for their domestic use. Aside the high cost associated with this, the discharge of noxious contaminants into the atmosphere is undesirable. The research entailed a working collaboration with some notable Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have done extensive ground work in the area for access to some secondary data, as well as a number of corporate and governmental agencies that are relevant to the study. Further, the ranch was visited to establish hands-on, the existing renewable energy sources. A trade-off of these sources was carried out with reference to a number of relevant evaluation parameters to identify the most suited option for addressing the energy challenge. A comparative analysis of this selected source was then made to establish its techno economic potential against the existing source of power generation- diesel powered generating sets, which currently costs R1.5 million annually in running expenses. The findings from this research have established that a Renewable Energy source (mini hydro) is a more cost effective option than the diesel powered gen set, providing a 43% reduction in cost of energy generation, and a 42% reduction in the life cycle cost over the five year of analysis, compared to the status quo. In addition, it is also more environmentally friendly. Conclusively, the findings and recommendations of this research effort, if well implemented, will be beneficial to the ranch, the adjoining communities and other relevant stakeholders. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.