Project Development

The skills, alliances and other resources referenced throughout this website provide all of the necessary components to properly and effectively seek out, identify, evaluate and develop projects of any viable nature. Each project, whether a traditional energy facility or an opportunity of an alternate or unusual nature, can be facilitated by seeking out and bringing the proper resources to bear.

DBP seeks to perform initial projects evaluations with a minimum of outside resources. Site investigations and project concepts are researched, evaluated and discussed by the principals of DBP. Our approach to data collection and technical evaluation is unique in the small project development arena. We pride ourselves on performing site evaluations for a fraction of the costs incurred by the major A/E firms while achieving the same level of quality and with a higher degree of creativity. The steps taken in our evaluation are generally as follows:

  • Establish contact at a senior level of the host facility organization to assure that there is the required level of interest and a desire to achieve added value in the operation of the host facility. Some organizations for internal technical or political reasons are not ready to be sold on our services. For those who are interested, DBP will work on a fee basis or will competitively bid projects, but we seek exclusive arrangements on a contingency basis whenever possible.
  • Site investigations include a complete facility evaluation using our systemic technical and financial data checklist. Completion of this simple form yields all information necessary to properly evaluate a project technically and financially.
  • Preliminary equipment selection and layout sketches allow the preparation of accurate estimates of capital costs, performance, operating costs and revenues.
  • Financial modeling using DBP’s proprietary financial techniques provides a long-term revenue model with easily documentable assumptions. This flexible computerized worksheet allows multiple iterations and “what if” scenario analysis. Sensitivity analysis can be performed an any desired variable from CPI to capital costs to O&M labor costs.

At this stage, technically viable projects can be evaluated based on debt coverage, internal rate of return and other financial indicators as may be desired. An internal rate of return of 22% to 25% is a minimum hurdle at this stage of the project evaluation unless other mitigating factors are present.  Projects meeting these technical and financial hurdles have an excellent chance of surviving the development process and being actualized.