Sustainability
Overview
As the world's largest renewable energy, hydropower is an essential part of the solution to climate change. With its pollution-free electricity, hydropower is providing a pathway to a sustainable future.
As with any infrastructure project, the construction of a hydropower facility will inevitably have local impacts on communities and the environment. It is incumbent on all stakeholders, especially the hydropower developer and operator, to seek to maximise project benefits while avoiding, minimising or mitigating any negative impacts.
As a renewable energy, it is essential that hydropower is developed sustainably. The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has played a leading role in the development of what constitutes good and best practice in hydropower development encompassed by the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, a global certification scheme managed by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance and aligned with World Bank and IFC performance standards.
Action
Sustainability guidelines, tools and training
The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is used for certifying the sustainability performance of hydropower projects around the world. Through our partnership with the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance we provide access to training, guidance and sustainable hydropower assessors to developers looking to create new and modernise old hydropower programs.
Access guidelines, tools and trainingThe G-res Tool- Carbon Calculator for Reservoirs
Flooding of land to create reservoirs can result in greenhouse gas emissions.
IHA and UNESCO, in cooperation with researchers from the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQÀM) in Canada, the Norwegian Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) and the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (LUKE), developed the G-res Tool to help hydropower companies and researchers conveniently estimate and report net greenhouse gas emissions from their reservoirs.
This easy to use, online tool is a reliable and cost-effective way of estimating the emissions created from building a reservoir whilst factoring pre-existing conditions and naturally occurring emissions. The results can enable your project to meet Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) Hydropower Criteria and gain access to exclusive funding through green bonds.
