The inaugural 2023 Outlook sets out a realistic roadmap to enable hydropower and other renewables to deliver against net zero targets.

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Inside you will find key highlights:

• At 34 GW, 2022 marks the first time since 2016 that more than 30 GW of hydropower came online, including 10 GW of pumped storage (PSH).
• Hydropower currently provides over 15% of the world's electricity.
• Current pipeline shows 590 GW of hydropower projects at various stages of development, including 214 GW of PSH.
• To continue momentum and reduce the 700 GW gap between pipeline and net zero pathways, governments must work collaboratively to boost investment, streamline licensing and introduce sustainable practice regulations.

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IHA’s 2022-2023 Annual Report: Momentum grows to ensure all new hydropower is sustainable hydropower.

2022 saw a momentous year for IHA including the launches of the Planning for Climate Commission, the Global Renewables Alliance at COP27, the defining of our five-year strategy and the bedding in of a new values-based membership model. 2023 has begun well with the first certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. These have set the foundations for a successful 2023 which will culminate in the World Hydropower Congress in Bali in October.

Contents:

• Foreword by Roger Gill and Eddie Rich
• Five year strategy to 2027 
• Delivering a values-based membership model 
• The membership year in numbers 
• Sustainable hydropower: the only hydropower 
• Governance and finance

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‍Now in its ninth edition, the 2022 Hydropower Status Report is published at a key moment in the clean energy transition.

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The 2022 Hydropower Status Report finds that:

• Global installed hydropower capacity rose by 26 GW to 1360 GW in 2021
• 4,250 TWh of clean electricity was generated from hydropower, 1 and a half times the entire electricity consumption of the EU
• Around 80% of new hydropower capacity installed in 2021 was in a single country – China
• 4.7 GW of pumped storage hydropower was added to the grid, triple the amount added in 2020.

However, the report finds that this growth is not enough to reach net zero targets.

Read more.

IHA’s 2021-2022 Annual Report chronicles key achievements from a landmark year

2021 has been a decisive year for IHA with the first ever virtual World Hydropower Congress, the launch of a landmark declaration on sustainable hydropower and the first sustainability standard in the renewables sector.

The report details these achievements as the organisation moves to a values-based model of membership and spearheads a global communications campaign to spotlight hydropower's role in the clean energy transition.

Contents:

-         Foreword by Roger Gill and Eddie Rich

-         A membership model that builds trust

-         Highlights from 2021

-         IHA priorities and programmes

-         Advocacy and communications

-         World Hydropower Congress

-         Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower

-         Hydropower Sustainability Standard

-         Governance and finance

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has published a new How-to Guide on Hydropower and Indigenous Peoples to help developers and operators to engage with Indigenous Communities in hydropower development.

The guide provides guidance on working with Indigenous Peoples, achieving international good practice when planning and delivering a hydropower project, and obtaining consent for development.

Read the press release.

Learn more about Indigenous Peoples and explore case studies.

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Hydropower infrastructure can have significant implications for public and environmental safety, and it is important to ensure that any opportunities and risks are managed effectively throughout a project’s life cycle.

IHA' new guide on Hydropower Infrastructure Safety can help developers and operators manage the impacts of hydropower development.

Find out more about the guide.

Декларация Сан-Хосе об устойчивой гидроэнергетике определяет новый набор принципов, рекомендаций для руководства новым развитием и увеличения вклада сектора в энергетический переход.
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Он был запущен по завершении Всемирного конгресса по гидроэнергетике 2021 года после процесса общественных консультаций, в котором участвовали сотни организаций и отдельных лиц, включая представителей правительств, НПО, гидроэнергетики, международных финансовых институтов и академических кругов.

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Узнайте больше о Декларации Сан-Хосе об устойчивой гидроэнергетике.

A Declaração de San José sobre Energia Hidrelétrica Sustentável identifica um novo conjunto de recomendações de princípios para orientar o novo desenvolvimento e aumentar a contribuição do setor para a transição energética.

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Ele foi lançado na conclusão do Congresso Mundial de Hidreletricidade de 2021 após um processo de consulta pública que envolveu centenas de organizações e indivíduos, incluindo representantes de governos, ONGs, indústria hidrelétrica, instituições financeiras internacionais e acadêmicos.

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Leia mais sobre a Declaração de San José sobre Energia Hidrelétrica Sustentável.

La Declaración de San José sobre energía hidroeléctrica sostenible identifica un nuevo conjunto de recomendaciones de principios para guiar el nuevo desarrollo y mejorar la contribución del sector a la transición energética.
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Se lanzó al final del Congreso Mundial de Energía Hidroeléctrica de 2021 luego de un proceso de consulta pública que involucró a cientos de organizaciones e individuos, incluidos representantes de gobiernos, ONG, la industria hidroeléctrica, instituciones financieras internacionales y el mundo académico.

Lea más sobre la Declaración de San José sobre energía hidroeléctrica sostenible.

关于可持续水电的圣何塞宣言确定了一套新的原则建议，以指导新的发展并加强该部门对能源转型的贡献。

它是在 2021 年世界水电大会结束时启动的，经过公众咨询过程，涉及数百个组织和个人，包括政府、非政府组织、水电行业、国际金融机构和学术界的代表。

阅读有关可持续水电圣何塞宣言的更多信息。

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The San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower identifies a new set of principles recommendations to guide new development and enhance the sector’s contribution to the energy transition.  

This congress draft of the declaration has now been superseded by the final version, which was launched at the conclusion of the World Hydropower Congress on 24 September 2021 after an extensive public consultation.

Download the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower in your preferred language:

• Chinese
• Spanish
• French
• Portuguese
• Russian

Read more about the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower.  

La Déclaration de San José sur l'hydroélectricité durable identifie un nouvel ensemble de recommandations de principes pour guider les nouveaux développements et renforcer la contribution du secteur à la transition énergétique.
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Il a été lancé à l'issue du Congrès mondial de l'hydroélectricité de 2021 à la suite d'un processus de consultation publique auquel ont participé des centaines d'organisations et de particuliers, notamment des représentants de gouvernements, d'ONG, de l'industrie hydroélectrique, d'institutions financières internationales et d'universités.

En savoir plus sur la Déclaration de San José sur l'hydroélectricité durable.

In collaboration with conservation groups and the hydropower industry, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) has published guidance for hydropower planners to design and implement projects that carefully co-exist with and support protected conservation areas.

The good practice guide was developed following consultations with a multi-stakeholder Working Group on Protected Areas, which included the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, hydropower developers and operators such as EDF, Renewable Energy Holdings, ICE, as well as IHA.

‍Find out more about the guide

The International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower's Working Group on Capabilities, Costs and Innovation has released a new paper, 'Pumped Storage Hydropower Capabilities and Costs'

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The paper provides more information and recommendations on the financial side of Pumped Storage Hydropower and its capabilities, to ensure it can play its necessary role in the clean energy transition.

This paper was launched at the 2021 World Hydropower Congress, find out more.

Read more about the Forum's latest outcomes.

The International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower's Sustainability Working Group has released a working paper exploring the sustainability of pumped storage hydropower.

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As pumped storage hydropower continues to grow and fulfil its necessary role in the clean energy transition, it is essential that sustainability is at the core of development.

This paper was launched at the 2021 World Hydropower Congress, find out more.

Read more about the Forum's latest outcomes.

Read the Executive Summary for the findings of the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower's three Working Groups, on Cost, Capabilities and Innovation, Sustainability, and Policy and Market Frameworks.

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Read more about the findings presented at the 2021 World Hydropower Congress.

Read more about the Forum's latest outcomes.

The International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower's Policy and Market Frameworks Working Group has released a new paper, 'Pump it up: Recommendations for urgent investment in pumped storage hydropower to back the clean energy transition.'

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The paper discusses and lends recommendations pertaining to how pumped storage hydropower can galvanise investment in order to fulfill its necesary role in the clean energy transition.

Additionally, the Forum has created several are specific papers to be published alongside this paper:

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EUROPE

USA

SOUTH EAST ASIA

SWITZERLAND

BRAZIL

AUSTRALIA

PORTUGAL

INDIA

ITALY

UK

AUSTRIA

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

AFRICA

CHINA

GREECE

Read the findings from the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower's Working Group on Costs, Capabilities and Innovations pertaining to 'Innovative Pumped Storage Hydropower Configurations and Uses'.

The report was launched at the 2021 World Hydropower Congress, find out more.

Read more about the Forum's latest outcomes.

More than 500 GW of hydropower installations are in the pipeline worldwide, but this is far short of what is required to limit dangerous global warming.

This leaves a 300 GW gap in what is required from hydropower by 2050 to limit global warming to 2°C, and a gap of over 600 GW in what is required to limit warming to 1.5°C and achieve net zero emissions.

This is the conclusion of a major new report, ‘Hydropower 2050: Identifying the next 850+ GW towards 2050’, by researchers from the International Hydropower Association (IHA), published today at the World Hydropower Congress.

The report assesses pathways to net zero modelled by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), against current and future planned hydropower capacity.

Read the press release: Report identifies 300 GW gap in hydropower needed to limit global warming‍

The San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower identifies a new set of principles, commitments and recommendations to guide new development and enhance the sector’s contribution to the energy transition.  

This draft of the declaration is open for public feedback from the opening of the 2021 World Hydropower Congress on 7 September until 22 September. Its final version will be a landmark outcome at the end of the event on 24 September.

Read more about the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower.

Download the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower in your preferred language:

Chinese

Spanish

French

Portuguese

Russian

Read more about the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower.

The San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower identifies a new set of principles, commitments and recommendations to guide new development and enhance the sector’s contribution to the energy transition.  

This consultation draft of the declaration has now been superseded by the final version, which was launched at the conclusion of the World Hydropower Congress on 24 September 2021 after an extensive public consultation. You can download the final declaration here.

The consultation draft is also available for download in the following languages:

• Chinese
• Spanish
• French
• Portuguese
• Russian

Read more about the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower.

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The How-to Guide on Labour and Working Conditions will help hydropower developers, operators, contractors and sub-contractors manage labour and working conditions. The guide covers human resource policies, recruitment, occupational health and safety, non-discrimination and gender, workers’ accommodation, staff training and capacity building and grievance redressal mechanisms among other themes.

Find out more about the guide.

随着世界继续努力应对 Covid-19 大流行，《2021 年水电状况报告》现已发布第八版。

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国际水电协会 (IHA) 编制的报告发现：

• 2020 年，全球水电装机容量增长 1.6%，达到 1,330 吉瓦。

• 该行业去年创造了创纪录的 4,370 太瓦时的清洁电力。

• 2020 年，总计 21 吉瓦的项目投产，高于 2019 年的 15.6 吉瓦。

• 全球近三分之二的增长来自中国，新增产能为 13.8 吉瓦。在增加新产能的其他国家中，只有土耳其（2.5 吉瓦）贡献了超过 1 吉瓦。

• 已完成的主要项目包括安哥拉 2.1 吉瓦的劳卡设施、中国的 1.8 吉瓦鸡西抽水蓄能设施以及土耳其的伊利苏（1.2 吉瓦）和下卡勒柯伊（0.5 吉瓦）项目。

• 最大的一个项目是中国的乌东德，其 12 台机组中的 8 台并网，为中国电网增加了 6.8 吉瓦。

• 中国在水电总装机容量方面仍然处于世界领先地位，超过 370 吉瓦。巴西（109 GW）、美国（102 GW）、加拿大（82 GW）和印度（50 GW）占据了前五名的其余部分。

Now in its eighth edition, the 2021 Hydropower Status Report is published as the world continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report compiled by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) finds that:

• Global installed hydropower capacity rose by 1.6 per cent to 1,330 gigawatts in 2020.

• The sector generated a record 4,370 terawatt hours of clean electricity last year.

• During 2020, projects totalling 21 GW were put into operation, up on 2019’s 15.6 GW.

• Nearly two-thirds of global growth came from China, which saw 13.8 GW of new capacity. Among other countries that added new capacity, only Turkey (2.5 GW) contributed more than 1 GW.

• Major projects completed include the 2.1 GW Lauca facility in Angola, the 1.8 GW Jixi pumped storage facility in China and the Ilisu (1.2 GW) and Lower Kaleköy (0.5 GW) projects in Turkey.

• The single biggest project was Wudongde in China, which put eight of its 12 units online, adding 6.8 GW to the Chinese grid.

• China remains the world leader in respect of total hydropower installed capacity with over 370 GW. Brazil (109 GW), the USA (102 GW), Canada (82 GW) and India (50 GW) make up the rest of the top five.

Read the press release.

Read the status report online.

Read the Status report in Chinese.

The How-to Guide on Environmental and Social Assessment and Management will help hydropower stakeholders plan and assess projects strategically, prepare and conduct ESIAs, deal with third-party stakeholders, budget, establish environmental and social management systems, monitor and improve performance, as well as engage with stakeholders throughout the project life cycle.

Find out more about the guide.

Amid rising interest in green hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels, the International Hydropower Association is calling for governments and industry to scale up its production by coupling projects with clean hydropower.

Read IHA's new publication, 'The green hydrogen revolution: hydropower's transformative role' now.

Find out more about the report.

This How-to Guide helps hydropower developers and operators conserve river system biodiversity while generating renewable energy.

It details methodologies and technologies that developers and operators can use for basin-level planning, identifying project boundaries and areas of influence, understanding the distribution and value of biodiversity, mitigation and compensation measures, as well as monitoring and reporting, throughout hydropower development and operation.

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Find out more about the guide.

Read IHA’s 2020-2021 Annual Report to learn about our programme priorities and key achievements as part of our ongoing mission to advance sustainable hydropower.

In the past year, we celebrated our 25 year anniversary, launched the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower and announced a new IHA Charter for Sustainable Hydropower, among other activities.

In the report, transformational changes to the association’s membership model are outlined and in addition the 2021 World Hydropower Congress is previewed to potential registrants.

Contents:

• Foreword by Roger Gill and Eddie Rich
• Celebrating 25 years of IHA
• Our membership model is changing
• Charter for sustainable hydropower
• 2020: The year in review
• Programmes
• The year ahead
• Governance
• How to contact IHA

Find out how to conduct sustainability assessments remotely using latest communications and monitoring technology.
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Read more about the guidance.

This How-to Guide helps hydropower developers to achieve good international industry practice in river management throughout a project’s life-cycle.
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Download the Forum's Terms of Reference here...

This How-to Guide supports hydropower developers to identify, manage and avoid risks associated with resettlement.

It will guide practitioners to design and implement resettlement programmes in accordance with the internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Tools.

Learn more about resettlement.

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This How-to Guide will help practitioners to understand good practice in benefit sharing for hydropower project development and operation.
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The publication supports decision-makers to identify and deliver socio-economic benefits to communities, while assisting companies to avoid business risks and improve project viability.

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This How-to Guide will help operators and developers to sustainably manage the impacts of erosion and sedimentation on a hydropower project.

The publication maps out practical measures that meet good international industry practice across the project life cycle: from early concept through to detailed design, construction, and operation.

This IHA position paper sets out the immediate impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on the hydropower sector.

The paper looks at how developers and operators have responded, and outlines important hydropower-specific recommendations to assist governments and international financial institutions as they develop their economic recovery plans.

For latest news and resources, visit IHA's Covid-19 communications centre:

hydropower.org/covid-19

Presentation on the 2020 Hydropower Status Report.

This PowerPoint slide pack includes headline information and infographics on worldwide hydropower installed capacity and generation data.

These slides can be used in external presentations provided the source is credited as 'International Hydropower Association (IHA), 2020 Hydropower Status Report'.

To download the full report pdf please visit the publication page.

Learn more: www.hydropower.org/statusreport

IHA members can download the presentation in Hydropower Pro

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Now in its seventh edition, the 2020 Hydropower Status Report is published at a time of great global uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report, compiled by IHA and its team of researchers and analysts, finds that:

• Covid-19 has underlined the hydropower sector’s resilience and its critical role in delivering clean, reliable and affordable energy, especially at times of crisis.
• A bold and ambitious green recovery plan involving significant investment in sustainable hydropower will be needed as part of the policy response.
• Total global hydropower installed capacity reached 1,308 gigawatts (GW) in 2019.
• Clean electricity generation from hydropower achieved a record 4,306 terawatt hours (TWh), the single greatest contribution from a renewable energy source.

Learn more: www.hydropower.org/declaration

IHA members can download the report in Hydropower Pro, our online community.

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CHINESE LANGUAGE VERSION

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The Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines on Good International Industry Practice (HGIIP) define performance expectations for hydropower projects.

The 26 guidelines cover a range of environmental, social and governance topics. Each guideline presents definitions of the processes and outcomes relating to good practice in project planning, operation and implementation.

As a compendium, the guidelines are a reference document for meeting the expectations of lenders, regulators and communities. Compliance with the guidelines can be specified in commercial contracts between financiers and developers, and developers and contractors. Learn more.

The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) is a tool for assessing projects across a range of social, environmental, technical and economic criteria.

Assessments are based on objective evidence and the results are presented in a standardised way, making it easy to see how existing facilities are performing and how well new projects are being developed.

The Assessment Protocol covers all stages of a project's lifestyle: planning, preparation, implementation and operation.

‍Find out more.

The Hydropower Sustainability ESG Gap Analysis Tool (HESG) enables project proponents to identify and address gaps against international good practice.

The gap analysis tool is based on the framework of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, assessing projects according to environmental, social and governance criteria.

The tool is divided into 12 sections which are compatible with IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards and the World Bank’s new Environmental and Social Framework.

The tool is published by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) under the mandate of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council. Learn more.

IHA's 2019-2020 Annual Report outlines our contribution to global decision-making on hydropower and renewable energy, and our initiatives to advance sustainability and share best practices across the sector.

“Now, more than ever, collaboration and dialogue are needed to advance global sustainable energy and the transformation towards a low-carbon energy future,” writes IHA President Roger Gill in his foreword.

“IHA, under the mandate given to us by our members to advance sustainable hydropower, will continue working vigorously with our members, partners and wider stakeholders to deliver the ambition needed to tackle present and future threats and realise the opportunities ahead.”

The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide supports owners and developers of hydropower projects identify, assess and manage climate risks to enhance the resilience of hydropower projects.

The guide helps to make informed decisions about how to plan, build, upgrade and operate hydropower systems in the face of increasingly variable climatic and hydrological conditions.

It responds to the need for international industry good practice on how to incorporate climate resilience into hydropower project planning, design and operations. The guide seeks to evolve from the default use of historical data and the assumption that hydrological variability will remain the same over the lifetime of a project. The guide also addresses how best to access, use and interpret climate change modelling and observed climate data.

The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide was developed with the financial and technical support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank Group and its Korea Green Growth Trust Fund.

The Russian translation was supported by EBRD.

The Report on the 2019 World Hydropower Congress is a comprehensive account of the world's most important gathering of hydropower decision-makers, experts and innovators.

More than 750 delegates from a record 77 countries participated in the three-day event in Paris, 14-16 May 2019, representing industry, government, social and environmental NGOs, academia, finance and multilateral institutions.

Two-hundred speakers addressed 40 focused sessions and workshops on topics such as sustainability, climate resilience, data solutions, working with indigenous communities and supporting growth in other renewables.

In this report you will find:

• Outcomes of discussions and proposed priorities for action
• Session reports on Clean Energy Systems and Modernisation; Sustainability and Strategic Planning; and Climate Change and Resilience
• Regional sessions reports on Europe, Africa, North America, South & Central America, Latin America, East Asia & Pacific
• Workshop reports on Sediment Management, Climate Change Resilience Guide, Preparing operation and maintenance strategies, Sustainability assessment tools, Hydropower benefit sharing and the Francophone workshop on sustainability and good practices
• Summary of the opening and closing sessions

Visit the World Hydropower Congress website.

The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide offers a methodology for identifying, assessing and managing climate risks to enhance the resilience of hydropower projects.

The guide responds to the need for international industry good practice on how to incorporate climate resilience into hydropower project planning, design and operations.

It seeks to evolve from the default use of historical data and the assumption that hydrological variability will remain the same over the lifetime of a project. The guide also addresses how best to access, use and interpret climate change modelling and observed climate data.

The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide was developed with the financial and technical support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank Group and its Korea Green Growth Trust Fund.

News Release - New guide to help hydropower build resilience to climate change

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13 May 2019

The 2019 Hydropower Status Report offers insights and trends on the hydropower sector.

The sixth edition of the report provides information and statistics on installed capacity and estimated generation by country and by region, as well as articles by five leading government ministers.

Key findings:

• More than 21.8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable hydroelectric capacity was put into operation in 2018.
• Electricity generation from hydropower projects achieved a record 4,200 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2018, the highest ever contribution from a renewable energy source, as worldwide installed hydropower capacity climbed to 1,292 GW, according to the report.
• China added the most capacity with the installation of 8,540 megawatts (MW), followed by Brazil (3,866 MW), Pakistan (2,487 MW), Turkey (1,085 MW), Angola (668 MW), Tajikistan (605 MW), Ecuador (556 MW), India (535 MW), Norway (419 MW) and Canada (401 MW).
• Brazil has now overtaken the United States as the second largest producer of hydroelectricity by installed capacity, after 3,055 MW was put into operation last year at the 11,000 MW Belo Monte complex in the country’s northeast.

Contributions from policy-makers

Government ministers from Canada, Indonesia, Nepal, Uganda and Uruguay contribute policy interventions, each emphasising the need for investment in renewable hydropower to help countries achieve sustainable development.

• Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Amarjeet Sohi, writes about industry efforts to build partnerships with indigenous communities and create long-term economic opportunities.
• Indonesia’s Minister of National Development Planning, Bambang P. Soemantri Brodjonegoro, explains how his country is committed to reducing GHG emissions by 29 per cent by 2030 through developing hydropower and other renewables.
• Nepal’s Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun, writes that his government is aiming to attract foreign investment in hydropower while exploring regional energy interconnections.
• Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Irene Nafuna Muloni, emphasises the need to raise investment capital for hydropower development as a way to widen electricity access and support socio-economic transformation.
• Uruguay’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Guillermo Moncecchi, reports on the strong complementarity between hydropower and other variable renewable energy sources.

PowerPoint

Download the PowerPoint of the 2019 Hydropower Status Report.

Media enquiries

Media requests should be directed to will.henley@hydropower.org

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The 2019 Hydropower Status Report offers insights and trends on the hydropower sector.

This PowerPoint presentation is provided as a free educational resource.

Credit: International Hydropower Association 2019.

The International Hydropower Association’s Activity and Strategy Report for 2018-2019 provides an overview of our mission to advance sustainable hydropower.

The publication shares highlights from IHA's knowledge building and sustainability programmes, looking at our work to share strategies which strengthen the sector’s performance.

The report also previews the World Hydropower Congress taking place in Paris, 14-16 May 2019. Read the press release.

Knowledge building programmes:

• The status of hydropower: monitoring the sector
• Clean energy systems: highlighting the expansion of hydropower’s role
• Climate mitigation: assessing greenhouse gas emissions
• Climate resilience: developing a guide
• Green bonds: unlocking the market
• Hydropower benefits: better reporting
• Hydropower preparation facility: a model for sustainable projects
• Modernisation: building knowledge on innovation
• Operations and maintenance: advancing innovative strategies
• Regional interconnections: connecting hydropower
• River basin development: promoting collaboration
• Sediment management: identifying good practices

Sustainability programmes

• Supporting a suite of Hydropower Sustainability Tools
• Building sustainable hydropower capacity around the world
• Hydropower sustainability assessor training opportunities

Dans le présent Rapport d'activité et de stratégie 2017-2018, nous décrivons la mission de l'association, à savoir la promotion d'une hydroélectricité durable. Nous revenons sur les réalisations de l'année écoulée et définissons nos objectifs stratégiques pour l'avenir.

En las páginas de este informe sobre estrategia y actividades 2017-2018, explicamos la misión de la asociación para fomentar la energía hidroeléctrica sostenible. Analizamos los resultados del año anterior y nos marcamos unos objetivos estratégicos para el futuro.

Nas páginas deste Relatório de Atividades e Estratégia de 2017-2018, delineamos a missão da associação de promover a hidreletricidade sustentável. Analisamos as realizações do ano passado e definimos nossas metas estratégicas para o futuro.

在《2017-2018年活动和战略报告》中，我们概述了协会促进水力发电可持续发展的使命。我们回顾了过去一年的成就，并制定了我们未来的战略目标。

На страницах данного Отчета о деятельности и стратегии 2017–2018 мы излагаем миссию нашей ассоциации по развитию устойчивой гидроэнергетики. Мы анализируем достижения за прошлый год и формулируем стратегические цели на будущее.

DOWNLOAD REPORT

24 May 2018

The 2018 Hydropower Status Report offers insights and trends on the hydropower sector.

Now in its fifth edition, the report provides information and statistics on installed capacity and estimated generation by country and by region, articles by leading energy and environment ministers, and results of a sector-wide survey on the future of hydropower.

Key findings:

• A record 4,185 terawatt hours (TWh) in electricity was generated from hydropower in 2017, avoiding up to 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases as well as harmful pollutants.
• Worldwide hydropower installed capacity rose to 1,267 gigawatts (GW) in 2017, including 153 GW of pumped storage. During the year, 21.9 GW of capacity was added including 3.2 GW of pumped storage.
• Growth was fastest in East Asia and the Pacific, with 9.8 GW of capacity added in 2017, followed by South America (4.1 GW), South and Central Asia (3.3 GW), Europe (2.3 GW), Africa (1.9 GW) and North and Central America (0.5 GW).
• China is the world’s largest producer of hydropower, and accounted for nearly half of global added installed capacity, at 9.1 GW. It was followed by Brazil (3.4 GW), India (1.9 GW), Portugal (1.1 GW) and Angola (1.0 GW).
• 58.4 per cent of surveyed hydropower decision-makers and professionals expect to expand their company's installed capacity in the next three years, while 51.7 per cent of respondents expect to increase investments in hydropower over the next three years.

A clean source of electricity

The report publishes findings from a study of the greenhouse gas footprint of 500 large hydropower reservoirs. The research used a new tool to assess net emissions and found hydropower’s median emissions intensity to be just 18.5 gCO2-eq/kWh.

By generating electricity from hydropower instead of coal, in 2017 the world prevented up to 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases – and avoided a 10 per cent rise in global emissions from fossil fuels and industry. It also avoided 148 million tonnes of air polluting particulates, 62 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide, and 8 million tonnes of nitrogen oxide from being emitted.

Contributions from policy-makers

Leading energy and environment ministers from Australia, Ethiopia, Sarawak, Malaysia, and Scotland, UK, have contributed to the 2018 report, explaining how investment in hydropower is supporting national development priorities and the clean energy transition:

• Australia - Minister for the Environment and Energy, Hon Josh Frydenberg MP
• Ethiopia - Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, Hon Seleshi Bekele
• Sarawak, Malaysia - Chief Minister Yab Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg
• Scotland, United Kingdom - Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse MSP

Media enquiries

Media requests should be directed to communications@hydropower.org

Infographics

Download infographics from the report here: www.hydropower.org/keyfacts2018

18 December 2018

An additional 78,000 megawatts (MW) in clean energy storage capacity is expected to come online by 2030 from hydropower reservoirs fitted with pumped storage technology, according to this working paper from the International Hydropower Association (IHA).

Below are some of the paper's key messages and findings.

• Pumped hydropower storage (PHS), 'the world’s water battery’, accounts for over 94 per cent of installed global energy storage capacity, and retains several advantages such as lifetime cost, levels of sustainability and scale. The existing 161,000 megawatts (MW) of pumped storage capacity supports power grid stability, reducing overall system costs and sector emissions.
• A bottom up analysis of energy stored in the world’s pumped storage reservoirs using IHA’s stations database estimates total storage to be up to 9,000 gigawatt hours (GWh).
• PHS operations and technology are adapting to the changing power system requirements incurred by variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. Variable-speed and ternary PHS systems allow for faster and wider operating ranges, providing additional flexibility at all timescales, enabling higher penetrations of VRE at lower system costs.
• As traditional revenue streams become more unpredictable and markets are slow to appropriately reward flexibility, PHS needs to secure new sources of reliable and long term revenue in order to attract investment, particularly in liberalised energy markets.
• Driven by the increasing penetration of wind and solar, reduced dispatchable generation and the need for greater grid flexibility, an additional 78,000 MW or an increase of nearly 50 per cent of PHS capacity is expected to be commissioned by 2030. This could further increase with the right policy settings and market rules.

Read the press release.

Learn more about pumped storage hydropower.

IHA's Activity and Strategy Report 2017–2018 outlines the association's mission and activities to advance sustainable hydropower.

The report features:

• Introduction to IHA: summarising our vision, mission and values
• IHA's strategy and action to build and share knowledge
• Benefits of membership and knowledge networks
• Knowledge building programmes: how we are supporting the hydropower sector
• Sustainability: the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and related tools
• Awards: details on the IHA Blue Planet Prize, Mosonyi Award and Young Researcher of the Year prize
• World Hydropower Congress: a look back on Addis Ababa in May 2017
• Membership directory: meet our diverse community of members, who are active in over 100 countries

Translations are available in Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

How useful are these translated versions? Let us know by voting in our online poll.

Read the news release.

The 2017 Hydropower Status Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments and trends in the sector around the world.

The report includes:

• an overview of regional trends, highlighting new capacity added in 2016
• detailed regional analysis of new capacity installations, projects in the pipeline and policy development
• maps and data visualisations of deployment, generation, potentials, and more
• a new map and infographic on long-distance transmission development
• 17 new country profiles
• analyis of key topics including:
• climate resilience
• greenhouse gas emissions
• green bonds
• electricity storage
• multipurpose reservoir
• long-distance transmission
• operations and maintenance
• sediment managament and more
• sustainability assessment

The report is compiled from data driven by our hydropower database of the world's hydropower stations and companies, built in collaboration with regulators, ministries and electricity associations, as well as the world’s station owners and operators. It also incorporates insights from our annual issues survey, which was fielded to a broad cross-section of hydropower professionals in December 2016.

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IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

Better Hydro: Compendium of Case Studies 2017 presents examples of excellence in specific aspects of sustainable hydropower development. The case studies have been compiled through a collaboration between the International Hydropower Association and the World Bank Group.

The collection of 34 case studies is based on assessments carried out under the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, a tool developed through multi-stakeholder consensus that measures the sustainability of projects across a range of social, environmental, economic and technical considerations.

Topic case studies focus on specific aspects of development, such as ‘indigenous people’, ‘cultural heritage’, ‘economic viability’, and ‘water quality’ (23 are covered in total). In addition, the publication features five project-wide case studies that cover a broad geographical scope and focus on different stages of project development. Finally, six more general initiatives demonstrating innovative local and regional approaches are also detailed.

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This report provides an overview of the discussions that took place at the 2017 World Hydropower Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission. It includes the speeches that were delivered in the high-level segments of the conference, as well as summaries of the presentations and exchanges that happened during the technical and business segments.

This report also gives us an opportunity to extend our warm thanks to the event's organising partners, and to the additional fifty organisations which took part in shaping and supporting the programme, which extended over five days.

The 2017 World Hydropower Congress Handbook is the essential guide to the event, including full details of the programme, speakers, venue, facilities and study tours.

The handbook also includes special features on hydropower and interconnections in Africa, sustainable development, long-distance transmission and risk management.

More than just an event guide, the handbook is a directory of experts on a range of hydropower topics. It features:

• Forewords by Ethiopia's minister for water, irrigation and electricity, African Union commssioner for infrastructure and energy, UNECA executive secretary, IHA chief executive, GEIDCO chairman, and World Bank Group vice president for sustainable development
• Profiles of over 100 speakers participating in the congress
• An overview of each and every session, with a background to topics
• Special topic feature articles
• Details of post-congress study tours, which visit some of Africa's technical developments and cultural sites
• Information about the range of organisations involved in creating the congress
• Venue maps and floor plans
• General information for delegates

The International Hydropower Association gathers statistics and monitors deployment and use throughout the year. 2017 Key Trends in Hydropower reveals that 31.5 GW of new hydropower capacity was added around the world in 2016. The figure includes 6.4 GW of pumped storage – nearly twice the amount commissioned the previous year.

The briefing also analyses the most significant recent developments in the hydropower sector worldwide.

The briefing includes graphical information on:

• Hydropower capacity commissioned in 2016 by region
• Global total installed hydropower capacity at the end of 2016, broken down by leading countries
• Worldwide distribution of pumped storage capacity at the end of 2016
• Hydropower's contribution by region in terms of installed capacity, generation and technical potential

2017 Key Trends in Hydropower precedes the 2017 Hydropower Status Report, which will provide more in-depth analysis by region and will be published in May 2017 at the 2017 World Hydropower Congress.

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IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

Hydropower, as an affordable, reliable and sustainable source of electricity, has played an important role in the growth and industrialisation of many emerging market economies such as Laos, Kenya, Sarawak (Malaysia), China (1980s and 90s), and Brazil, to list just a few.

Nevertheless, the hydropower potential of many emerging market countries remains undeveloped due to the difficulties surrounding project bankability, particularly the credit risk of domestic offtakers, and a risk reward imbalance in the eyes of investors.

The governments and state-owned utilities of some of these countries may have the option of exporting hydropower production to a neighbouring country for the development of such potential. Opportunities for export can offer many benefits when compared with a hydropower project established exclusively for domestic production, but also present unique risks.

This briefing explores the opportunities and the challenges of power trade for the hydropower sector.

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IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

With growing populations and livelihoods, managing freshwater will be one of the major tasks for society in the foreseeable future. Infrastructure including hydropower facilities will play an increasing role in multipurpose freshwater management.

This briefing describes examples of projects in Tajikistan and Iceland, where climate resilience has been incorporated into the modernisation of existing hydropower facilities.

These case studies illustrate how organisations worldwide have considered the risks associated with a more variable and extreme climate in the modernisation of their projects. The briefing also outlines the need for the development of industry guidance on best practice in climate risk management in hydropower operations.

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IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

It has long been accepted that every hydropower project is unique, and that bespoke design solutions are required for each project. It has also been recognised more recently that the market and concession arrangements for each project require tailored financing solutions.

With the plethora of financial instruments and funding sources now available, including new products such a green bonds, there is great scope for innovation, and bespoke solutions can be developed to suit the needs of individual developers.

This briefing explores trends in hydropower financing in 2016, including:

• problems with the BOOT mechanism
• the impact of cheap oil and gas
• re-engagement of the multilaterals
• donor-backed finance
• public–private finance
• commercial bonds
• green bonds
• innovative mixed finance

The briefing is authored by Mike McWilliams, head of hydropower at Mott MacDonald. It is also featured in the 2016 Hydropower Status Report.

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IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

The 2016 Hydropower Status Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent development and trends in the sector around the world.

The report includes:

• An overview of regional trends, highlighting new capacity added in 2015
• Detailed regional analysis of new capacity installations, projects in the pipeline, and policy development
• Maps and data visualisations of deployment, generation, potentials, and more
• A new map and infographic on the deployment of pumped storage worldwide
• A selection of country profiles where significant activity is taking place
• Updates and case studies on key topics including climate resilience, hydropower finance, resettlement and indigenous people

The report is driven by our hydropower database of the world's hydropower stations and companies, built in collaboration with regulators, ministries and electricity associations, as well as the world’s station owners and operators.

Download

IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

The International Hydropower Association gathers statistics and monitors deployment and use throughout the year. 2016 Key Trends in Hydropower reveals that 33 GW of new hydropower capacity was added around the world in 2015 (including 2.5 GW of pumped storage), and highlights key recent trends in the sector.

The briefing includes graphical information on:

• Hydropower capacity commissioned in 2015 by region
• Global total intalled hydropower capacity at the end of 2015, broken down by leading countries
• Worldwide distribution of pumped storage capacity at the end of 2015
• Hydropower's contribution by region in terms of installed capacity, generation and technical potential

2015 Key Trends in Hydropower precedes the 2016 Hydropower Status Report, which will provide more in-depth analysis by region and will be published in April 2016.

Download

IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

The 2015 Hydropower Status Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent development and trends in the sector around the world.

The report includes:

• An overview of global trends, highlighting new capacity added in 2014
• Detailed regional analysis of new capacity installations, projects in the pipeline, and policy development
• Maps and data visualisations of deployment, generation, potentials and more
• A selection of country profiles where significant activity is taking place
• Updates on key topics including climate change and the water–energy nexus
• Case studies highlighting hydropower's role in the renewable energy mix

The report is driven by our hydropower database of the world's hydropower stations and companies, built in collaboration with regulators, ministries and electricity associations, as well as the world’s station owners and operators.

Download

IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

The hydropower sector’s contribution to a sustainable and prosperous Europe is a new macroeconomic study of hydropower in Europe. It outlines both the direct and indirect macroeconomic benefits of hydropower in the 28 European Union (EU) member states, alongside Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.

The International Hydropower participated in the study, which was conducted by DNV GL, a technical consultancy, on behalf of 21 hydropower companies. It is the most comprehensive assessment of European hydropower to date.

The study's findings include that hydropower:

• Accounts for 18 per cent of Europe's total electricity generation as well as more than 150 GW of firm capacity;
• Provides 220 TWh of storage capacity in Europe;
• Contributes EUR 25 billion to the EU's GDP and EUR 38 billion to Europe's total GDP;
• Currently provides 80,000 high-qualified jobs in the EU and 120,000 in Europe. The job value creation per person is eight times higher than the European average in the manufacturing sector.

So-called ‘green’ bonds have swiftly moved from a standing start in 2007–08 to being worth in the region of USD 37bn by the end of 2014 and as an asset class appear to be here to stay.

Hydropower and the Rise of Green Bonds looks at the growth and evolution of the green bonds market, and how hydropower fits into the picture.

The need for water as energy storage for better integration of renewables is a policy brief produced by the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) in colloboration with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and the Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy (CEDREN).

The brief follows a seminar on the subject convened by the three organisations at 2014 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

The brief explores water as energy storage in the context of the water–energy nexus, and how the planning, operation and management of storage or pumped-storage hydropower needs to adopt a nexus perspective.

It includes three case studies:

• The island El Hierro, Spain: 100 per cent renewable energy by integrating wind and solar energy with pumped hydro on a small scale
• Integration of wind and hydro power in Ethiopia: large opportunities for a developing country
• Hydro as a carrier for both off- and on-grid electrification and as energy storage for better integration of renewables in Mozambique

The document contains brief details of the additions to each update of the G-res tool.

This document describes in detail how each of the components of the simple conceptual equation to define the net GHG footprint of reservoir impoundment have been defined and calculated in the G-res tool.

This document provides a step-by-step guide describing how to use the Earth Engine functionality and how to link the information obtained with the appropriate fields of the G-res tool itself.

Upon accessing the G-res tool, users are invited to read this guidance document and the G-res tool technical documentation. Please take the time to do so carefully, as many parameters request specific information.

The Hydropower Report of IHA is an annual publication that takes an expanded look at hydropower-related developments around the world, as well as giving a review of our activities for the year.

Building on previous activity reports, the 2013 Hydropower Report has an expanded section on the hydropower sector globally and regionally, and reviews our activities over the last year.

The report includes:

• 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 our activities, including sustainability, hydropower development and communications
• Information about our meetings and events, including the upcoming IHA 2013 World Congress

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IHA members can download the report from Hydropower Pro.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

A major milestone has been reached in the UNESCO/IHA Greenhouse Gas Status of Freshwater Reservoirs project, with the launch of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs, a landmark publication and the current standard on measuring emissions from reservoirs.

The publication provides 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.

The guidance covers:

• Concepts and processes involved in making such measurements
• The approach to conducting field measurements
• Guidance on calculating results

With the concept of global application being at the forefront of the development of the GHG Measurement Guidelines, we have 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, our 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. We anticipate that shared results from the use of these guidelines will contribute to this intention.