Technical excellence for those shaping the future of renewable energy

First Principle is a boutique hydropower consulting office based in Abu Dhabi, a strategic hub at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia. First Principle aims to contribute to ambitious and sustainable hydropower projects, providing expertise and engineering excellence. With First Principle your projects are physics-driven and reality-proven.

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What We Do

DUE DILIGENCE

Robust evaluation of technical, economic, and environmental factors to ensure project viability and investment security.

SITE SCREENING

Identification of optimal locations through advanced geospatial analysis and data-driven methodologies.

CONCEPT DESIGN

Creating innovative and practical solutions to meet project objectives with optimal technical configurations.

DESIGN OPTIMIZATION

Maximizing efficiency and sustainability by refining project layouts and integrating innovative solutions.

TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT

Ensuring project success through expert coordination and management of technical processes and teams.

>100MW

5

20 to 100MW

3

1 to 20 MW

30

100kM to 1MW

10

5 to 100kW

2

TOTAL

50

Who We Are

Maxime Lépinoy

Founder & Director

Maxime Lépinoy is a highly accomplished Senior Hydropower Engineer with over 20 years of experience in Infrastructure Development and Construction Management, specializing in Renewable Power Projects.

He holds a Master of Engineering from École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, complemented by a P&L Management certification from EMLyon.

Maxime’s extensive expertise spans the entire lifecycle of hydropower projects, from conceptual design to successful implementation. He has played a pivotal role in the development of both small- and large-scale hydropower plants, managing major projects across Europe, MENA, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

As a Project Director, Maxime has led over 20 energy development initiatives, delivering a combined capacity exceeding 2 GW. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding multifunctional teams and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders, always upholding the highest standards of technical excellence.

Maxime's expertise and judgment were instrumental in ensuring the technical integrity of the projects and de-risking Fortis Green’s investment strategy.

Fortis Green

Hydrobox values Maxime’s contribution as a trusted technical advisor and recommends him without reservation for similar engagements in the clean energy space

Hydrobox

Maxime was technical lead supporting the successful $50 millions equity investment by Gridworks into the Anzana Electric Group portfolio. We highly value Maxime’s contribution to his engagement and recommend him without reservation.

Anzana

Case Studies

Hydrobox_Recommendation.pdf

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Fortis Green_Recommendation.pdf

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Anzana_Recommendation.pdf

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