‘The release of these results shows the detailed and expert nature of Protocol assessments, we hope that having reports available publicly will encourage other stakeholders in the sector to explore how assessments can be of use to them.’

• An overview of global trends, with key figures for the past 12 months
  
• Expanded reports on developments in the hydropower sector at a regional level
  
• Review of IHA activities, including work covering sustainability, hydropower development & communications
  
• Information about IHA meetings and events, including the upcoming IHA 2013 World Congress

“In the face of climate change, multi-purpose hydropower has a vital role to play in managing water" said Tracy Lane, Programme Director, International Hydropower Association (IHA). "Water storage can protect communities from the impacts of unpredictable floods and droughts, and revenues from hydropower can help finance water management infrastructure.”

“To ensure that projects are developed sustainably, IHA urges investors and operators alike to make use of the existing hydropower sustainability assessment tools,” said IHA Sustainability Director, Cameron Ironside, adding that:“With 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, it is relevant to highlight the role that integrated water and energy infrastructure asset management plays in contributing to enhanced regional cooperation across the world.”

Collaboration with CSHE

“The Protocol is a tool to guide sustainability in the sector and provides a common language around which issues of sustainability can be discussed” explained Doug Smith, IHA Sustainability Specialist. “Training on the Protocol’s breadth of sustainability topics and on how these are assessed, forms an important part of an IHA Sustainability Partnership.”

Barbara Fischer–Aupperle, Head of Sustainability at Voith Hydro said: ‘This workshop was an excellent opportunity to bring together various stakeholders on hydro power planning and financing together and discuss the use of the Protocol as a practical tool to measure and decide upon realization of sustainability in hydro power projects.’

• 07 January 2013 – call for candidates
• 26 April 2013 – closing date for candidate nominations
• 24 May 2013 – presentation of candidates at IHA General Meeting (Kuching, Malaysia)
• 24 June 2013 – distribution of electronic ballot form
• 05 September 2013 – deadline for electronic votes to be received by IHA Central Office
• 13 September 2013 – election results announced
  

• Alstom Hydro
• Agence Française de Dévelopment
• Coynes & Bellier
• Artelia Eau & Environment
• COFACE
• Hydropower Equipment Association
• BNP Paribas
• Credit Agricole
• Société Générale
• Natixis
• Direction Générale de l'Energie et du Climate

• A look at our activities in Latin America
• Recent developments in IHA’s work programmes, and
• News from a selection of IHA members.

• The Regional Hydropower Business Forum held in Malaysia;
• IHA's new mission statement;
• An update on the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol;
• A preview of Currents, the magazine of the IHA 2013 World Congress;
• News of a greenhouse gas monitoring project in Colombia;
• A brand-new feature showcasing some of the work and achievements of a selection of IHA's members.

“Hydropower already provides base load and peaking supply in many countries. But it can also provide important ancillary services. These include regulation, frequency response, reactive supply, scheduling, and black start service. Storage, in the form of water in a reservoir, can back up the variable production of other renewables by providing supply when the others do not. Pumped storage hydropower offers the additional opportunity to pump water when other renewables produce surplus energy, thus ensuring that excess electricity is not wasted. This electricity is then released in times of high demand“ said Ms Lane.

“Sustainable hydropower’s contribution to mitigation and adaptation to climate change is poorly understood. Water infrastructure is critical to global water security and to ensuring resilience to the impacts of climate change. Hydropower can have a role to play in providing the financing for water storage infrastructure which is critical to adaptation in the water sector. Adding the hydropower component not only provides low-carbon electricity but also enables communities to benefit from the multiple services of water storage such as protection against floods or droughts” said Ms Lane today.