PRESS RELEASE

International Hydropower Association

For Immediate Release

Friday 27 August 2010, London

A major milestone has been reached in the UNESCO/IHA Greenhouse Gas Status of Freshwater Reservoirs Project with the publication of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs.

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has published the first edition of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs, a landmark publication and the current standard on measuring Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from reservoirs.

The GHG Measurement Guidelines, a key outcome of the UNESCO/IHA GHG Status of Freshwater reservoirs Research Project, were officially launched at a session held by IHA at the recent HydroVision International conference in Charlotte, USA.

For the first time, the GHG Measurement Guidelines provide individuals responsible in this area with a comprehensive tool to assess the GHG status of Freshwater reservoirs, including definitive guidance on measurement and qualification of emissions resulting from the formation of reservoirs.

Guidance covers:
• concepts and processes involved in making such measurements,
• the approach to conducting field measurements, and
• guidance on calculating results.

With the concept of global application being at the forefront of the development of the GHG Measurement Guidelines, IHA has ensured that the methodology contained within the publication is applicable to all climate types and reservoir conditions. By providing the tools required to determine net GHG emissions in a selected set of reservoirs, IHA’s intention is to ensure that the results gained will be utilised to develop predictive tools, thereby avoiding the necessity of such intensive field measurements in the future. It is anticipated that shared results from the use of these GHG Measurement Guidelines will contribute to this intention.

Commenting on the GHG Measurement Guidelines, Richard Taylor, IHA Executive Director said “IHA is proud to have taken a leading role in advancing the knowledge relating to the determination of net GHG emissions from freshwater reservoirs, through the publication of the GHG Measurement Guidelines”. Taylor added: “This milestone publication draws from ongoing research hosted by IHA, in collaboration with the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO, and has benefitted from the collaboration of numerous research institutions and scientists within its peer-review group”.

IHA would encourage any organisation that has an interest in GHG emissions from freshwater reservoirs to utilise the GHG Measurement Guidelines. The publication is available in both printed and electronic (pdf) formats and can be ordered directly from the IHA website at: www.hydropower.org/climate_initiatives/GHG_Measurement_Guidelines.html.

The UNESCO/IHA Greenhouse Gas Status of Freshwater Reservoirs Project
The Project started in 2008 to advance scientific understanding on the greenhouse gas status of freshwater reservoirs and the publication of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs is a significant milestone, reached through a two year, consensus-based, scientific approach. The GHG Measurement Guidelines, peer reviewed by representatives from more than 100 institutions, including universities, research institutes, specialist companies and sponsoring agencies, set the basis for the next stages of the research.

The current aims of this Project are to:
• promote scientifically rigorous field measurement campaigns, and the evaluation of net emissions from a representative set of freshwater reservoirs throughout the world;
• build a standardised, credible set of data from these representative reservoirs;
• develop predictive modelling tools to assess the GHG status of unmonitored reservoirs and potential sites for new reservoirs; and
• develop guidance and assessment tools for mitigation of GHG emissions for sites vulnerable to high net emissions.

For more information on the UNESCO/IHA GHG Research Project please visit the IHA website at www.hydropower.org.

END

***

About IHA
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1995 under the auspices of UNESCO. Today, it has members active in more than 80 countries. Its mission is to advance sustainable hydropower’s role in meeting the world’s water and energy needs by: championing continuous improvement and sustainable practices; building consensus through strong partnerships with other stakeholders; and, driving initiatives to increase the contribution of renewables.

IHA is a founding partner of the International Renewable Energy Alliance, and is honoured to work alongside the world’s leading associations for bio, geothermal, solar and wind energies. IHA’s Central Office is in London, UK.

***

Download this Press Release
To Download this Press Release (pdf format), click here

***

For further information, please contact