Apex Cogen's advice is "investment driven," tempered by years of practical engineering and installation experience. It applies the same principles to projects it invests in and develops as to those projects undertaken by its clients.

Review the big picture first. Cogeneration plants are usually located close to the plant heating and/or cooling requirement (the thermal "host"). The thermal characteristics of the plant load, along with the opportunity to sell excess electricity, determine to a large extent the cogeneration plant configuration and size. Knowledge and details of the host plant's operating hours and annual availability, fuel supply and quality, thermal, cooling and electricity use, water availability, electrical inter-connection tie-in scheme, fuel and electricity prices, standby power costs, and availability of real estate to build a plant are early determinants of project feasibility.

Feasibility analysis services provided by Apex Cogen cover preliminary evaluation of an opportunity through to detailed reports that encompass sufficient data to obtain non-recourse project funding. These include screening studies, prime mover equipment selection (gas and steam turbines, reciprocating engines, generators and power transformers, heat recovery devices), heat balance calculations, cycle optimization, electrical inter-connect studies and single line diagrams, capital cost and operating estimates, financial projections, modeling, and financing structures. Focused feasibility analysis not only provides an early indication of project success, but provides a critical structure for development of the opportunity, and identifies the critical parameters for engineering and financing the project.

Due diligence. Apex Cogen's considerable expertise and structured approach to evaluating projects can be an invaluable aid to financial institutions in providing objective advice for investment decision. Apex Cogen offers due diligence services on hourly or fixed price bases to render professional, specialized advise to project investors, financial institutions, and lenders.