23 August 2016

The International Hydropower Association is expanding its knowledge networks initiative to include eight topics identified as the most challenging for the sector.

The knowledge networks bring together professionals throughout IHA’s worldwide membership to share ideas and experiences, discuss new developments and collaborate on a range of key hydropower topics.

Knowledge networks will now operate across the following topics:

• Clean energy systems
• Climate mitigation
• Climate resilience and adaptation
• Communications
• Project benefits
• Project financing
• Regional development
• Water footprint

The networks are open to anyone who is an employee of an IHA corporate member or an individual member of IHA.

This expansion follows the popularity of existing knowledge networks on the topics of climate resilience and adaptation, and communications. These active networks have been established through a number of networking activities such as webinars, surveys, workshops, reports and briefings in recent months.

The topics for the new networks have been identified through a combination of ongoing sector monitoring, and consultation with industry professionals through IHA's annual issues survey.

Bill Girling, interim director of hydropower development at IHA, said: “We are seeking to harness the success of our established knowledge networks, and broaden our engagement with members to cover the most important topics for the hydropower sector today.

“By working collaboratively with specialists in our membership to identify and share experiences and good practices from many different regional contexts, we hope to unearth solutions to some of the biggest challenges and help the sector to move forward sustainably.”

For more information on how the networks operate and how to get involved, you can visit our knowledge networks webpage or contact the IHA team at communications@hydropower.org.