Conceptual & Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) Studies for Smarter Industrial Projects
Helping industrial clients outline cost effective, sustainable water treatment and reuse solutions before committing to full investment.
Making the Right Decisions Before Committing Capital
Major capital projects are often defined by decisions made early, when uncertainty is highest and the cost of change is lowest.
At this stage, gaps in understanding can lead to:
Over or under designed solutions.
Unclear capital, operating costs and payback.
Hidden technical or delivery risks.
Inappropriate technology selection.
Misalignment between design, delivery, and operation.
Once a project progresses, these issues become significantly more expensive to correct.
Independent Advice at Critical Decision Points
Promethean Engineering provides independent technical and commercial input during the concept and FEED stages of project development. We help you move from uncertainty to clarity, ensuring that key decisions are based on evidence, not assumption.
Our role is not to promote a specific technology or delivery approach, but to identify what will work best for your project and your business.
How We Work
We support early stage project development through a structured but flexible approach:
Review and challenge design assumptions.
Assess process selection and configuration options.
Identify technical and delivery risks early.
Develop and validate mass balances and process performance.
Support capital and operating cost estimation.
Evaluate alternative solutions and scenarios.
Our focus is on ensuring that the project is technically sound, commercially viable, and deliverable.
What This Enables
Increased confidence in major investment decisions.
Early identification and mitigation of risks.
Clear understanding of cost, performance, and trade offs.
Better alignment between design intent and operational reality.
Reduced likelihood of costly changes during later project stages.
Where This is Typically Applied
We are typically engaged where:
A project is at concept or early design stage.
There is uncertainty around technology selection or configuration.
Capital investment decisions require independent validation.
Existing pilot or operational data needs to inform scale up.
Clients want an independent view alongside vendors or contractors.
Industries & Applications
We support concept and FEED development across water and industrial treatment systems, including:
Industrial wastewater treatment and reuse.
Municipal water and wastewater infrastructure.
Membrane-based systems (RO, UF, MBR).
Biological treatment systems (including anaerobic digestion).
Cooling water and utility systems.
Our focus is not limited to a specific technology, but on ensuring that the selected solution performs as intended in practice.
Example: FEED-Stage Risk & Design Review
A treatment expansion project required independent review prior to investment approval.
Promethean Engineering assessed process design assumptions, cost estimates, and delivery risks — identifying key technical and commercial uncertainties at an early stage.
👉 Result: Improved clarity on project risks and strengthened confidence in the proposed investment approach.
→ Read full case study
Linking Operational Insight to Capital Decisions
Where operational or pilot data exists, we integrate data driven analysis into concept and FEED development. This ensures that scale up decisions are based on real system behaviour, not assumptions or idealised design conditions.
Scope of Support & Typical Deliverables
Our level of involvement is tailored to your project, but typically includes support across the following areas:
1. Defining the Project Need
We establish a clear understanding of the drivers and requirements for the project:
Identification of key drivers (regulatory, cost, capacity, sustainability).
Water and wastewater characterisation.
Definition of target effluent or product water quality.
Alignment with business case objectives.
2. Site & Integration Assessment
We assess how the proposed solution will integrate into existing infrastructure:
Site constraints and layout considerations.
Interface with existing processes and utilities.
Operational and maintenance implications.
3. Conceptual Process Design
We develop and evaluate suitable treatment approaches:
Assessment and comparison of technology options.
Development of process flow diagrams (PFDs).
Preliminary general arrangement layouts.
Identification of key process interfaces and system boundaries.
Early stage operability and safety considerations (including HAZOP where required).
4. Cost & Commercial Evaluation
We support investment decisions with clear cost and performance insight:
Capital cost estimates.
Operating cost modelling (energy, chemicals, maintenance).
Payback and scenario analysis.
5. Risk Identification & Mitigation
We identify and address risks early in the project lifecycle:
Technical and process risks.
Delivery and integration risks.
Development of mitigation strategies.
6. Business Case & Decision Support
We provide structured input to support investment approval:
Clear comparison of options and trade offs.
Evidence-based recommendations.
Support for internal approvals or funding processes.
7. Procurement & Tender Preparation
We help prepare the project for delivery:
Development of tender documentation (RFQs).
Support during vendor engagement and bid evaluation.
Drafting of performance requirements and testing criteria.
Benefits For Your Organisation
Understand your business requirements and project drivers.
Build a solid technical and commercial foundation prior to project execution and significant cost commitment.
Review and establish the best technology fit for your needs.
Early identification of risks and mitigation plans.
Regulatory & sustainability compliance.
Let’s Discuss Your Project
If you are planning a capital project or need an independent view on an existing design, we can help you reduce risk and move forward with confidence.
The level of detail and scope is tailored to each project, from targeted technical input to full concept and FEED development.
No obligation — just a practical discussion of your current situation