IHA Chair, Anton-Louis Olivier signs off the year with a list of some of the 2024 highlights for the sustainable hydropower community.

Sustainable hydropower is not being built fast enough, but 2024 might be the year it started to turn around. We have seen some new projects, some encouraging policy developments, and significantly more global interest in energy storage than ever before. But policies and pledges need to be turned into turbines and transformers if we are to stay on track with the doubling of installed capacity of hydropower globally by 2050.  

I see two key themes emerging for 2025 to ensure that the pace picks up. Firstly, we need a concerted global effort on pumped storage policies and development to ensure that the technology’s resurgence continues and demonstrates the role of hydropower in a reliable and secure energy transition. Embracing the opportunities pumped storage offers to the global storage challenge opens the door to further opportunities for conventional hydropower. Secondly, we need to do more to highlight that, far from being an existential threat, increased drought (and indeed flooding) can be managed through well designed hydropower. Sustainable hydropower stores water as well as energy.  

Here are twelve milestones in 2024 highlighting how IHA’s work is building the foundations for a resilient future #WithHydropower.

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January: European energy leaders convened in Switzerland to launch the report of XFLEX HYDRO

European energy leaders convened in Switzerland to launch the report of XFLEX HYDRO, a four-year, €18 million research and innovation project. This initiative demonstrated the potential of modest technological upgrades and advanced software to modernise and significantly extend the flexibility of hydropower plants across Europe.

The project’s mainly digital advancements, including hybrid systems, variable speed turbines, and optimised operational modes, mark a departure from traditional hardware upgrades. These innovations enhance hydropower’s ability to provide not only reliable baseline and peak power but also critical grid stability services, supporting the energy transition amidst the growing presence of intermittent renewables.

XFLEX HYDRO underscores the enduring relevance of hydropower, a renewable energy technology that has been a cornerstone of power systems for over 150 years, while uncovering new pathways to maximise its value in the modern energy landscape.

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May: Abuja Action Plan on Sustainable Hydropower Development launched during HydroPOWER Africa week

At the HydroPOWER Africa week in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu emphasised the importance of finance investments to deliver Africa’s clean energy transition: "Blended finance solutions can unlock investment opportunities for hydropower in Africa.

“To move fast, you move alone, but to move far you have to move together. We won't harness our human resources if they aren't energised by our natural resources. We need foreign investments and can provide a guaranteed return. Let’s turn our hydropower potential into reality for all Africans.”

The Abuja Action Plan on Sustainable Hydropower Development was launched at the event calling on governments and International Bodies to take the steps to incentivise hydropower development in Africa.

IHA co-hosted the HydroPOWER Africa week in Abuja, Nigeria with Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, The African Development Bank (AfDB), Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power (MOP). Over 70 organisations from around the world joined the two roundtables held at the event, which focused on progressing sustainable hydropower in Africa.

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June:  2024 World Hydropower Outlook highlights big 100

The 2024 World Hydropower Outlook is the flagship annual publication by IHA, which tracks and directs the progress of hydropower development globally against net zero pathways. Drawing upon exclusive new development insights from IHA’s global database, it features in-depth analysis of hydropower’s growth trajectory. The report highlights policy and financial investment challenges and examples of good progress.

The Outlook’s key findings included that hydropower continues to be the largest renewable energy source, with the global hydropower fleet reaching 1,412 GW in 2023. However, the five-year rolling average shows a downward trend. It is estimated that double the amount of hydropower that is currently installed is needed to reach net zero by 2050. To double the hydropower capacity by 2050, a cumulative investment of US$3.7tn is required.  

The Outlook charted the “big 100” pipeline of projects under development, which showed that acceleration of development is within reach.

More than 8,000 people have downloaded the 2024 Outlook this year.

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June: World Hydropower Congress Awarded Best Long-Standing Event

IHA was awarded the 'Best Long-Standing Event with more than 1,000 Participants' for the 2023 World Hydropower Congress at the International & European Association Awards 2024 in Graz, Austria.  

The Congress won for its global impact and success. It was held in Bali, Indonesia, in October-November last year, in partnership with the Government of Indonesia and the state electricity provider PLN. More than 300 organisations from 50 countries were represented at the event.  

The Associations World Congress 2024 was hosted by the Association of Association Executives, with an independent panel of judges selecting the winners from the nominated finalists.

The Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA) was also awarded the International Association of the Year from the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) in May. João Costa, Executive Director, and Alain Kilajian, Deputy Executive Director, had the privilege of accepting the award on behalf of our dedicated team and the entire HSA Governance Council during the IAIA'22 conference held in Dublin, Ireland.

"We're honoured to receive this recognition, which underscores our unwavering dedication to creating and implementing rigorous and transparent sustainability systems within the hydropower industry. ", said João and Alain, in a joint acceptance note. "This keeps us inspired and committed to advancing sustainable practices for a just transition."

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June: Massive Ituango Project Receives Recognition for Sustainable Good Practice

Following Jirau HPP’s gold certification in 2023, the first gold certification in South America, Ituango’s 2.4 GW hydropower project in Colombia, developed by Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), achieved silver certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS).

These certifications are assessed by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, a multilateral non-profit organisation that enhances transparency in the sector through its rigorous sustainability assessment and certification system and a robust capacity-building programme. The HSS is a global certification scheme aligned with the performance standards of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

As the second-largest project globally to earn this recognition, Ituango showcases EPM's commitment to global best practices in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) components. The project is poised to meet 17% of Colombia's electricity demand, contributing to sustainable hydropower development in harmony with the environment.

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July: Industry first guide for de-risking investments in hydropower

IHA in partnership with the Bechtel Corporation launched an industry-first guide to help decision-makers reduce risks and improve certainty in pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects: Enabling New Pumped Storage Hydropower: A Guidance Note for Decision Makers, it offers practical recommendations to de-risk investments, support project development, and unlock financing options.

By following this guidance, new market entrants can better understand and address risks, paving the way for successful PSH projects. Developed by a global working group, the guide responds to the urgent need for long-duration energy storage to enable the renewable energy transition.

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September: IHA Convenes Business Delegation to China

Alongside Erik Solheim, we led a global delegation to China to visit Beijing, Wuhan and Anji. The IHA delegation took part in the 3rd Asia International Water Week (AIWW) event and learnt about the unrivalled work being undertaken on hydropower development in China; culminating in a visit to the Changlongshan Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant in Anji. This PSH plant has 2.1 GW of total installed capacity and is the largest of its kind in East China.

As part of this HydroPOWER China event, IHA launched the 2024 World Hydropower Outlook in China, in collaboration with the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR). The Outlook in China was launched during a session at AIWW that explored the rapid development of China’s hydropower sector as part of the clean energy transition.

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September and throughout 2024: IHA launches regional offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America

IHA is partnering with members to open regional offices around the world to better maximise the key opportunities and challenges to support the development of global sustainable hydropower. Ensuring IHA has a presence in every significant hydropower market in the world will facilitate closer relationships with members, policymakers, and local communities.

In 2024, IHA opened an office in Abuja kindly hosted by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited; an office in Kathmandu kindly hosted by Bizbell; a Central Asia office in Dushanbe kindly hosted by TGEM; a Southeast Asia office in the PLN/INAHA offices in Jakarta, kindly staffed with employees from Sarawak Energy, KHN, Andritz; and a Latin American office in Lima, kindly hosted by LSH Consulting. In addition, SPIC seconded a staff member to IHA based in Kunming. These offices will serve as hubs for coordinating efforts to develop sustainable hydropower projects that meet the growing energy needs of the region.

Malcolm Turnbull, IHA President, attended the launch of the IHA office in Indonesia: “Indonesia has set ambitious targets for hydropower capacity by 2070 and has proven to be a renewables leader in the region as part of its industrialisation strategy.

“The opening of the IHA Southeast Asia office underlines this important work, which will need to continue if we are to reach our goals. Hydropower projects take more time than solar, which is rapidly accelerating, so we need to move much faster to deliver the hydropower we need to firm renewables. The opening of the regional office shows our commitment to work in partnership with our members to back this acceleration.”

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October: Hydropower community comes together for Global Hydropower Day

Global Hydropower Day was celebrated across 39 different countries this year. These included China, Germany, Nigeria, Tajikistan, India, Nepal, Brazil, Armenia, Canada, Romania and the United States. It was fantastic to celebrate our Hydropower Heroes and have so many inspirational stories shared across the two webinars. You can learn about the Hydropower Hero stories here and watch the webinars if you missed them here.

Another highlight on Global Hydropower Day was the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Eurelectric and IHA – committing to a partnership that will deliver joint advocacy actions across Europe and align and strengthen policy and advocacy efforts to deliver better regulatory support for hydropower technologies.

This cooperation will reinforce hydropower's voice across the European institutions and contribute to bringing hydropower flexibility and pumped storage solutions to the centre of the European energy dialogue. One of the first areas the two organisations will be partnering on will be the International Forum for Pumped Storage Hydropower, due to be held in Paris in September 2025. ‍

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November: Launch of the Global Alliance for Pumped Storage (GAPS)

A crucial step forward for pumped storage this year was the launch of the Global Alliance for Pumped Storage (GAPS) during COP29 in Azerbaijan. IHA brought together 30 governments and international agencies including Brazil, the European Commission, Indonesia, Spain, the United States, IRENA, IEA, IFC, and many others, to the launch in Baku.

GAPS has been set up to advance the deployment of pumped storage, the essential element to supporting renewable energy and ensuring energy security in an era of rapid transition to wind and solar power. 

The intergovernmental leadership group will pave the way, enabling the development of policies and practices at a national level.

The group will also oversee the programme, messages and actions to emerge from the International Forum on Pumped Storage on 9-10 September 2025 in Paris and determine the follow-up work that will be required to super-charge pumped storage development in the next decade.  

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November: World Leaders sign up to ambitious energy storage goals at COP29

At COP29 in Baku, 58 countries took a step toward securing a sustainable energy future with the adoption of the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge. Spearheaded by the COP29 Presidency, the pledge establishes ambitious goals: deploying 1,500 GW of energy storage, doubling global grid investments, and developing 25 million kilometres of grid infrastructure by 2030. These commitments aim to balance supply and demand, integrate more renewable energy, and accelerate the energy transition.

The rise of solar and wind, which accounted for 80% of global additional net capacity in 2023, underscores the urgent need for large-scale energy storage to address the variability of these renewables. Without sufficient storage, grids risk instability, with potential mismatches between supply and demand.

Pumped Storage Hydropower already provides over 90% of the energy storage on electricity grids today. However, the development of additional pumped storage projects is critical to ensuring grid flexibility and reliability as electrification increases. Encouragingly, there is no shortage of opportunities, with research identifying hundreds of thousands of potential pumped storage sites globally.

This year’s commitments mark the first time world leaders have recognised the importance of a balanced renewable energy mix, setting the stage for more resilient, sustainable energy systems worldwide.

Throughout 2024: 17 new members join IHA

In 2024, the IHA welcomed 17 new members, strengthening its global network of industry leaders. The new members — AECOM, ARX, Augwind, Delve, Deswik, GUVNL, LSH Consulting, Mabon, NEEPCO, NuConsult, QYEC, Rye Development, Salto Grande, TotalEnergies, Troyer, and Upper Hunter Hydro — bring diverse expertise to support sustainable hydropower development worldwide.

Welcome to all the new members and season’s greetings to all from the team at IHA!

Anton-Louis Olivier, IHA Chair

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