Explore individual courses or enroll in the full 5-course bundle

A practical hydropower O&M training program designed to improve reliability, reduce risk, and avoid costly maintenance and performance issues.

Best value: Complete program covering all five modules

Build a practical foundation to improve reliability, reduce risk, and support better asset management decisions — in just 5–6 hours. Self-paced, online, and designed for immediate application in your operations.

Individual Courses

What people are saying about Hydropower O&M Essentials Training Program

“Looking back, I wish I had access to a course like this earlier in my career. The sections on Maintenance, Budgeting, and Data Analytics really connected the dots for me — these are areas that would have made a big difference in my growth as an Operator. It’s very important for operators to learn these soft skills to truly excel in their jobs. The Hydropower O&M Essentials Training does an excellent job of bridging technical knowledge with practical, real-world insight.”

Plant Operator (16MW and 31MW HPP)

Duncan Godfrey

“Our team of five — including myself and several plant operators — attended the Hydropower O&M Essentials Training Program together, and we absolutely loved every aspect of it. The course struck the perfect balance between technical depth and practical relevance. It gave our operators valuable tools and perspectives they could immediately apply in our daily operations. We especially appreciated how the modules connected maintenance strategies, budgeting, safety, and asset management into one cohesive framework. Highly recommended for any team looking to strengthen their operational and asset-management practices.”

Senior Project Manager, Atlin Expansion Hydropower Project

Stuart Simpson, Tlingit Homeland Energy Limited Partnership (THELP)

“The training exceeded our expectations, providing both strategic insights and practical tools to tackle operational challenges. We are confident this will drive sustainable improvements in our projects.”

President, DÉVELOPPEMENT PEK

Marc Morin

“A great course — informative, relevant, and well-presented. I’d be happy to recommend it to others in the hydropower industry. ”

Director of Business Development & Energy Projects

Mike Michano, Pic River First Nation

“It was a pleasure to join the Hydropower O&M Essentials Training Program. The course content was practical and well-delivered — especially the Maintenance Strategy and Planning modules, which I found extremely useful. It’s a program I found valuable and would recommend to our operators, maintainers, and engineers. Looking forward to future sessions.”

Manager, Western Operations

Ian Strain, First Light Power

“I really enjoyed the Hydropower O&M Essentials Training Program. The course ramped up perfectly — starting from the fundamentals in Hydro 101 and progressing into more advanced topics like Maintenance Strategies, Data Management, Budgeting, and Asset Management. I found it to be the right balance of technical and practical content, making it an excellent program for both management and site operators. It truly brings everyone together with a common language.”

Manager, Generation Operations

Jason Hoskin, Peterborough Utilities Inc.

Why take this Program?

A structured, self-paced training program grounded in real-world hydropower operations and asset management.

Structured and practical

Covers the full O&M lifecycle

Grounded in real plant experience
Self-paced, modular learning designed by experienced hydropower professionals. Built for real operating decisions — not theory. From foundations to advanced practice: maintenance strategy, financial planning, HSE, and information management.
Every module reflects real operating conditions and modern best practices so learning applies immediately to your plant or team.



Authors & Contributors

Sunbird Power Academy

Program Leadership

James Florance

Manager, Hydropower Training & Capacity Building

James is a seasoned hydropower Operator and Site Manager with more than two decades of hands-on experience in plant operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and rehabilitation. His work includes SCADA and HMI upgrades, electromechanical rebuilds, major maintenance planning, and day-to-day operational management across hydropower facilities in Canada.

At Sunbird Power Academy, James manages the day-to-day training needs, ensuring that every module reflects real-world operating conditions, practical O&M practices, and the safety and reliability expectations of modern hydropower facilities. 

His field-based expertise and clear, direct teaching style make him a trusted trainer for operators, maintainers, engineers, and asset managers. 


Babar Khan, P.Eng., EMBA 

Founder, Sunbird Power Academy 

Co-Author, World Bank’s Hydropower Operations & Maintenance Strategies Handbook (2020)

Babar Khan is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience across hydropower operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, asset management, and infrastructure advisory globally. His work spans the full lifecycle of hydropower assets, from early concept and development through commissioning, commercial operation, optimization, and long-term asset management.

He has supported utilities, IPPs, Indigenous power companies, and institutional stakeholders including the World Bank Group, IFC, KPMG, and Manitoba Hydro International. He has been part of teams that developed hydropower projects from concept through commercial operation and has led or supported independent engineering and technical due-diligence assignments covering more than 5,000 MW of conventional and pumped-storage hydropower assets across North America and international markets.

His experience includes operational management of hydropower facilities, modernization and rehabilitation programs, and development of lifecycle asset strategies aligned with leading asset-management practices. This combination of plant-level operational experience and investment-grade technical advisory informs the structure and content of the Hydropower O&M Essentials program.

Developed through Sunbird Power Academy, the program is designed to bridge day-to-day plant practice with modern asset-management principles, reliability strategy, and long-term hydropower asset performance.

Babar holds an Executive MBA in Global Leadership and currently works within the hydropower sector supporting asset owners, utilities, and investors across North America. This training program is developed independently through Sunbird Power Academy.


Acknowledgement

This program has been shaped by the broader hydropower community and by the many operators, engineers, maintainers, and asset-management professionals whose experience and insights continue to inform leading practices across the sector. Their commitment to safe, reliable, and well-managed hydropower operations has inspired the development of this training and its practical focus on real-world plant performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this training designed for?

    This program is designed for operators, maintainers, engineers, and asset managers in the hydropower and renewable energy sectors. It’s ideal for both newcomers and experienced professionals who want to strengthen their technical and management skills.

  • Do I receive a certificate after completing a module?

    Absolutely. You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion from Sunbird Power Academy for each finished module, which can count toward professional development hours (PDHs) or continuing education credits.

  • Is the course self-paced, and how long do I have access?

    Yes — all courses are self-paced and available online. You’ll have 90 days of access to complete each module at your own pace, with the flexibility to start, pause, and resume anytime.

  • How much does it cost, and are there bundle options?

    Each individual module is priced at $500 CAD, or you can enroll in the full 5-course bundle for $1,500 CAD. We stand behind the quality of our training. If the program is not the right fit for you, you may request a refund within 14 days of enrollment, in accordance with our Terms of Use.

  • How can you contact us?

    Please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] or sunbirdpower.ca