IHA Blue Planet Prize
The IHA Blue Planet Prize is awarded to hydropower projects that demonstrate excellence in sustainable development.
The prize is awarded on the basis of an assessment using the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, its achievement of good practice across all topics and whether it has undergone a public consultation.
The prize was last awarded at the 2023 World Hydropower Congress in Bali, Indonesia.
The 2025 IHA Blue Planet Prize
The 2025 IHA Blue Planet Prize winners will be announced on 9 September at the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower in Paris. For the first time, additional awards may be made in the categories of Pumped Storage and Small Hydropower, alongside the main prize.
To qualify for the 2025 IHA Blue Planet Prize, projects need to have been assessed or certified under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard between 1 July 2023 and 13 June 2025, and met good practice across all topics.
The following projects have qualified:
Gold Certification
- Chuwa Khola Hydroelectric Project - Nepal
- Clyde and Roxburgh Hydropower Projects - New Zealand
- Jirau Hydropower Plant - Brazil
- Mai Beni - Nepal
- Mascarenhas Hydropower Plant - Brazil
- Ngonye Falls - Zambia
- Sebzor - Tajikistan
Silver Certification
- San Roque Multipurpose Project - Philippines
Certified
Certification TBC
- Eletropalmor - Brazil
- Fljótsdalur - Iceland
- Bakun - Malaysia
The IHA Board decides who receives the IHA Blue Planet Prize and any sub-categories. For the main award in 2025, the IHA members will have a role in selecting the finalists by voting for their favourite projects.
2023 Prize Winner
The 2023 IHA Blue Planet Prize was awarded to Hydro-Québec’s Eastmain-1 Development, with particular merit for their work engaging indigenous groups. The facility was the first to receive the Gold-level certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
IHA President, Malcolm Turnbull commented on Eastmain’s win: “We are delighted to award the 2023 IHA Blue Planet Prize to Hydro-Québec’s Eastmain-1 Development. The project has demonstrated a real commitment to transparency and good practice. We welcome Hydro-Québec’s passion for sustainable development and encourage all our members to pursue certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”
Previous recipients
The IHA Blue Planet Prize was awarded to 10 projects between 2001 and 2023 in recognition of good sustainability practice:
- Reventazón hydropower plant, Costa Rica (2019)
- Blanda hydropower project, Iceland (2017)
- Andhikhola hydel and rural electrification scheme, Nepal (2005)
- Arrow Lakes power plant, Canada (2005)
- Sechelt Creek power plant, Canada (2005)
- Salto Caxias project, Brazil (2003)
- Palmiet pumped storage scheme, South Africa (2003)
- King River hydropower development, Tasmania, Australia (2001)
