Turnkey Hydropower EPC in Africa

Featured Project

Madagascar 1.2MW Hydropower Plant

A completed turnkey project demonstrating our Africa delivery capability.

Francis turbine units — TC factory, ready for shipment to Madagascar

Commissioned

1.2MW Hydropower Plant, Madagascar

A turnkey hydropower project delivered in Madagascar, featuring two horizontal Francis turbine units. This project demonstrates the TC×HIER partnership's ability to execute end-to-end delivery in the African market — from design and manufacturing through installation and grid connection.

1.2MW

Total Capacity

2×600kW

Francis Units

60m

Net Head

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Our Capabilities

From Feasibility to Commissioning

A complete turnkey delivery model covering every stage of your hydropower and renewable energy project.

Turnkey Hydropower (EPC)

Complete project delivery: site survey, feasibility study, design, manufacturing, installation, testing, and commissioning.

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New Energy & Microgrid

Solar + storage + diesel hybrid systems for mines, islands, and off-grid communities across Africa.

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Retrofit & Upgrade

Modernize existing plants with new turbines, automation systems, and SCADA for improved efficiency and reliability.

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O&M Service

Local operation & maintenance through HIER Madagascar, with remote diagnostics and spare parts supply from TC.

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Our Products

Complete Product Portfolio

Five turbine types covering 100kW–100MW, plus a full range of electrical equipment for hydropower and substation applications.

Pelton

100–1000m head
100kW–100MW

High Head

Turgo

20–100m head
100kW–3200kW

Medium Head

Francis

20–300m head
100kW–100MW

Versatile

Kaplan

Low head, high flow

Low Head

Tubular

S-Type & Bulb
Low head

Low Head

Electrical Equipment Systems — 10 Product Lines

Complete primary & secondary equipment for hydropower stations and substations: switchgear, SCADA automation, excitation, DC power, synchronous controllers, and more.

12kV Switchgear LV Switchgear SCADA Excitation DC Power Synchronous Controller Remote Monitoring Reactive Compensation Generator Control +1 more

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Built In-House · Shot On-Site

Watch the Factory Floor

No stock footage. These clips are shot on our 30,000 m² manufacturing floor in Zhangjiajie — see how a runner is machined, balanced, and assembled.

50-ton runner on static balance test rig

Quality

Runner Static Balance Test

50-ton runner on a precision balance table — off-centre mass detected and corrected at sub-millimetre level before shipping.

Machining

6.3 m Vertical Lathe

Turning large cast-iron runner discs and flanges up to 50 tons.

Completed water-turbine generator units awaiting shipment

Assembly

Completed Units in Hall

Finished hydro units lined up in the assembly hall, ready for packing and dispatch.

Quick Selection

Find Your Turbine by Head Range

Not sure which turbine type fits your site? Start here — select your head range and we'll recommend the right solution.

High Head

100m – 800m+

PeltonTurgo

Best for mountainous terrain with high head and low flow. Pelton handles 100–800m head; Turgo covers 50–250m with higher flow capacity.

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Medium Head

30m – 250m

Francis

The most versatile turbine type — covers 30–250m head with excellent efficiency (90%+). Ideal for most medium-scale African river projects.

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Low Head

2m – 30m

KaplanTubular

For run-of-river sites with low head and high flow. Kaplan handles 2–30m; Tubular (S-type) suits 2–15m ultra-low-head installations.

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The Partnership

Two Engines, One Mission

Chinese manufacturing power meets Madagascar-based local expertise — a partnership built for African hydropower.

TC HYDRO

Manufacturing & Technology

20+ years of hydropower turbine manufacturing. Factory equipped with 6.3m vertical lathe, 8m horizontal lathe, and 315T oil press. Products exported to 14+ countries worldwide.

5 turbine types, 100kW–100MW capacity
Full electrical equipment supply chain
Export experience: Indonesia, Pakistan, France, Zambia, Madagascar
Factory: Zhangjiajie, China

Joint Venture

HIER

Local Developer-Operator & Market

Founded in 2010 by French engineer André FILLET — 25+ years in Madagascar's energy sector. Has built and operates 7 hydropower plants across 5 regions, serving 6,500+ subscribers and injecting surplus into the JIRAMA national grid. General Manager Dieudonné RAOELIJAONA is a former JIRAMA executive.

7 plants built · 4 MW installed · 20 GWh/yr · 6,500+ subscribers
Active in 5 regions: Amoron'i Mania, Haute Matsiatra, SAVA, SOFIA, MENABE
JIRAMA grid injection + partnerships with ADER, EU, KFW, USAID, BAD, GIZ
6 pipeline projects, 28 MW+ — incl. Belaoko Lokoho 8 MW (KFW/ADER)

View HIER Madagascar Portfolio →

Blog & Insights

Technical Articles & Project Updates

GAMO client delegation visiting TC factory

2024

Madagascar Client GAMO OCEAN INDEN S.A. Visits TC Factory

The owner of GAMO OCEAN INDEN S.A. visited the TC manufacturing facility to inspect equipment and discuss a planned 3×500KW + 1×320KW new hydropower project.

Africa 10-country training delegation at TC factory

2024

Africa 10-Country Training Delegation Visits

120 delegates from 10 African countries, organized by China International Small Hydropower, visited TC factory for a training program on small hydropower development.

Zambia Kasangiku 640KW project factory inspection

2024

Zambia Kasangiku 640KW Project — Second Factory Inspection

The project owner completed their second factory acceptance visit for the Zambia 640KW (2×320KW) hydropower project, confirming equipment quality and production progress.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common questions from our clients across Africa.

What is your typical project delivery cycle?+

For a typical small-to-medium hydropower project (100kW–10MW), the delivery cycle is 8–14 months: feasibility study (1–2 months), design & manufacturing (4–6 months), installation & commissioning (2–4 months). Larger EPC projects may take 12–24 months depending on site conditions and logistics.

Which countries in Africa do you provide services to?+

We serve all African countries. Our manufacturing base in China exports to 14+ countries worldwide, and HIER — our local partner in Madagascar — provides on-the-ground execution across East and Southern Africa. We have active projects or clients in Madagascar, Zambia, Ethiopia, and are expanding to West Africa.

Do you provide on-site installation and commissioning?+

Yes. Our EPC service includes on-site installation, testing, and commissioning by experienced Chinese engineers, supported by HIER's local team. For equipment-supply-only projects, we can also send engineers for supervised installation upon request.

What are the payment terms for EPC projects?+

Standard payment terms: 30% advance with PO, 40% against shipping documents, 20% on arrival/installation, 10% after commissioning acceptance. We also support letter of credit (L/C) and are flexible to discuss milestone-based structures aligned with your project financing.

How do you handle after-sales and spare parts supply?+

We maintain a 2-year spare parts package with every delivery. HIER's Madagascar office provides local O&M support, and TC's remote diagnostics platform monitors equipment 24/7. Spare parts are available from our China factory with typical 2–4 week delivery to Africa.

Can you retrofit old hydropower plants?+

Absolutely. We specialize in retrofitting and modernizing existing plants — replacing aging turbines, upgrading excitation/SCADA systems, installing new switchgear, and improving overall efficiency. Our team can assess your plant and recommend the most cost-effective upgrade path.

Do you provide microgrid solutions for mines?+

Yes. We design and build solar + storage + diesel hybrid microgrids for mines, islands, and off-grid communities. These systems can integrate with existing hydro or diesel generation, reducing fuel costs by 30–60% while ensuring 24/7 power reliability for critical operations.

What is the warranty period for your equipment?+

Turbines and mechanical equipment: 24 months from commissioning. Electrical equipment (switchgear, SCADA, excitation): 18 months. Civil works: 12 months. Extended warranty packages are available. All warranty terms comply with international EPC standards.

Do you support multi-language technical communication?+

Yes. We communicate in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese. HIER's team in Madagascar is fully francophone, and our Chinese engineers work with English technical documentation. This is especially important for francophone African clients and JIRAMA integration projects.

How to start a project assessment?+

Simply fill out our Project Assessment Form on the Contact page, or message us on WhatsApp (+86 15874842996). Provide your site location, available head and flow data, and project goals. Our engineers will respond within 24 hours with a preliminary assessment and recommended turbine type.

China-Built Turbines.
Madagascar-Delivered Solutions.

Madagascar 1.2MW Hydropower Plant

1.2MW Hydropower Plant, Madagascar