A feasibility study is compiled primarily by a dedicated team from the Conceptual Design and Technology Evaluation working groups. At those points requiring more detail even during the feasibility study, we assign other staff to the team. BTS employs for example around 250 people in detail planning for nearly all relevant unit operations. A further 1,100 experts from Engineering and Process Management Technology can – on demand – quickly provide reliable information about, for example, investment, infrastructure, process control, process analyzer technology and much more.

A feasibility study is performed in three phases. The preparatory phase involves defining and creating the necessary framework conditions. During the main, detailed evaluation phase of the study, the investment project is evaluated in detail in terms of its technical feasibility, economic success and existing risks. The documentation phase provides the documentation and presentation of the documents compiled according to the requirements of our customers.

Preparatory phase:

• Review of basic information (if not already done)
  • Technical reports, perhaps with process comparisons and selection of the optimum technology;
  • Market evaluation, competitor analysis;
  • Eco-check;
  • 1st draft of business case
• Definition of the exact framework conditions
• Products, market;
• Processes, raw materials;
• Site, operating concept;
• Capacities, line concept, equipment sizes;
• Schedule Detailed evaluation phase:

Technical feasibility

• Process description;
  • Safety classification of substances;
  • Mass and energy balances;
  • Design of individual equipment, equipment list;
  • Civil engineering and layout plan;
  • Connection to site infrastructure with design of supply and disposal systems;
  • Plant internal and external logistic concepts
• Environmental impact
  • Environmental impact study: immissions, propagation calculations, … ;
  • Offgas and wastewater quality;
  • Noise emissions, waste for landfill disposal;
  • Safety concept
• Economic evaluation
  • Estimation of investment costs;
  • Estimation of manufacturing costs;
  • Schedule of capital spending;
  • Financing models;
  • Full business case and its cost-effectiveness
• Risk analysis
• General estimation accuracy;
• Process risks (capacity, availability, achievement of product specification, …);
• Economic risks (sales and price forecasts, capacity utilization, cost development, ...);
• Impact of these risks on business;
• Sustainability debate

Documentation phase

• Documents for banks, shareholders, etc.;
• Approval planning