‍Leading hydropower companies and international organisations have declared their support for a new sustainability certification scheme for hydropower.

The Hydropower Sustainability Standard, launched at the World Hydropower Congress on 8 September 2021, will help to ensure that hydropower projects across the world are recognised and certified for their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.  

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Developed by a coalition of industry, governments, multilateral and financial institutions and civil society organisations, the certification scheme aims to build trust and promote transparency in the hydropower sector.  

“This new certification system is a game-changer for hydropower and is unmatched in the renewables sector,” commented Ashok Khosla, Chair of the Hydropower Sustainability Council which issued the new certification system.

The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is launched following a public consultation by the Hydropower Sustainability Council, with the support of the International Hydropower Association (IHA). The Standard is cited in the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower, to be issued at the conclusion of the World Hydropower Congress, as the means to demonstrate a project’s sustainability.

Leading members of IHA have declared their support for the new certification scheme. Developers, operators and manufacturers – from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Iceland, Sarawak (Malaysia), the United Kingdom and the United States – have either already confirmed they will put forward projects for certification or have urged their clients to comply with the new standard.  

International organisations including the International Energy Agency (IEA), conservation groups, as well as former government heads have stated support for the new industry assurance system.  

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‘Earn the right to be labelled as certified sustainable’

Hydropower projects will have to meet strict ESG performance criteria following an independent assessment to be awarded a new Certified Sustainable Hydropower label. Projects can be certified during planning, construction and operation, and the highest performers will be recognised with Silver and Gold certification status.  

Dr Khosla said: “To meet the critical challenge of climate change, we urgently need greater investment in renewable energy such as hydropower. Due to the scale of investment required, the hydropower sector needs a credible, transparent certification scheme that will incentivise the best projects. This will give communities, governments and investors greater confidence about their net benefits and how impacts on the local environment are mitigated.”

“The Hydropower Sustainability Standard has not only gained the support of industry but also of governments, international organisations, finance institutions and NGOs. Projects that go through the independent assessment process and pass certification will earn the right to be labelled as ‘certified sustainable’ in line with internationally agreed performance criteria.”

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‘Hydropower is at the heart of the energy transition’

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) said it would expect its members to certify new projects under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, in line with the organisation’s updated membership charter. Achieving certification will help demonstrate alignment with the green bond requirements of the Climate Bonds Initiative and the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Investment, as well as with World Bank and IFC performance standards.

IHA Chief Executive Eddie Rich said: “Hydropower is at the heart of the energy transition alongside wind and solar. The Hydropower Sustainability Standard is a clear and simple system to certify and assure hydropower projects as meeting minimum environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance expectations. It will address any confusion about whether a new hydropower project is sustainable and will, crucially, help to unblock green investment and licensing decisions.”

Launched at the World Hydropower Congress

At the opening plenary of the World Hydropower Congress, IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol backed the forthcoming Hydropower Sustainability Standard yesterday, saying: “We welcome the work done on [the] Hydropower Sustainability Standard by the Hydropower Sustainability Council and IHA in assembling a multi-stakeholder group and creating tools which set out best practices for the sector.”

“While there is a strong potential for hydropower projects to grow, and I hope it will grow, it is important that new hydropower projects are in line with sustainability standards and this is in my view critical for the next years to come,” Dr Birol added.

At the opening session, Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Global Change, said: “The [Hydropower] Sustainability Standard will be a really important innovation and, most importantly, it will allow the international community to invest in hydro projects.”

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull added: “There will be no excuse for any hydropower developer to fall short of international good practice. If governments play their part and the private sector commits that no hydropower project goes ahead unless it meets this standard, then we can contemplate a fully green, clean, modern and affordable electricity supply by 2050.”

Grant scheme for certification assessments

Hydropower developers and operators seeking certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard can access a grant to part sponsor the cost of an independent project assessment. Up to 1 million Swiss Francs (US$ 1.02m) is available for 40 or more projects over four years. The Hydropower Sustainability ESG Assessment Fund is managed by the International Hydropower Association (IHA)’s non-profit sustainability division and funded by the Swiss government’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).  

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Supportive statements:

Operators and developers

EDF

Béatrice Buffon, Executive Vice-President of EDF, said: “We actively support sustainable hydropower and we support IHA actions to accelerate its development in the world.”

Engie-Brasil, Brazil

Eduardo Sattamini, CEO of Engie-Brasil Energia, said: “As the largest private-sector power producer in Brazil, ENGIE is fully committed to keep deploying social and environmental best practices in its activities and is pleased to contribute to the elaboration of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”  

Edson Silva, CEO of Jirau Hydropower Plant, part owned by ENGIE, added: “After assessing the Jirau Hydropower Plant in 2012 with the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and publishing the results, it is a natural step for us to apply for sustainability certification, in order to confirm that we have implemented and manage a responsible project, complying with the best social, economic and environmental practices.”

Hubei Qingjiang, China

Wang Xiaojun, General Manager of Hubei Qingjiang said: “We support the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower and the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. They will play an important role in achieving global energy transition and net zero carbon targets.”

Hydro-Québec, Canada

Sophie Brochu, President and CEO, said: “We plan to use this new Hydropower Sustainability Standard to certify the Eastmain complex power plants in the James Bay region next year. We are proud to have played an active role in the development of the tool”.  

David Murray, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Vice President–Generation, Health, Safety and Environment, added: “We all recognise that climate change is real and that sustainable hydropower is part of the solution. Hydro-Québec is happy to contribute to developing and operating hydropower sustainably.”

ILI Group, Great Britain

Mark Wilson, CEO of Intelligent Land Investments (ILI) Group, said: “This new standard will be a world first in the renewables sector and will give decision makers and communities confidence that information on hydro projects can be relied upon. It will be the new gold standard for sustainable development ensuring environmental, social and governance (ESG) is put front and centre where it should be. ILI Group will be looking to have both our PSH projects, 450 MW 'Red John' at Loch Ness and our latest 600 MW 'Corrievarkie' at Loch Ericht, certified to the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”

Landsvirkjun, Iceland

Hörður Arnarson, CEO of Landvirkjun said: “Landsvirkjun has been an active user of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and is excited about taking the next step and applying the new Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”

Sarawak Energy, Malaysia

Sharbini Suhaili, CEO of Sarawak Energy said: “Sarawak Energy is Malaysia's largest renewable energy developer and one of the early adopters of the guidelines in the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, ensuring our hydropower projects are developed and operated in line with international standards and best practices.

“Our 1,285 MW Baleh Hydropower Project, currently under construction, will be submitted for certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard to ensure it meets the strict criteria of HSAP and to reaffirm our commitment towards sustainable hydropower development.”

SPIC- Brasil

Adriana Waltrick, CEO of SPIC Brasil, said: “SPIC Brasil's objectives are to develop and scale up innovative projects focused on sustainability and optimization of energy sources linked to Brazil's social, economic and environmental objectives. In this direction, we are fully engaged with the certification, which is an effective tool to optimize our processes with joint focus on people, communities and the environment”.

Yalong River Hydropower Development Corporation

Yalong Hydro Deputy General Manager, He Shengming, said: “We are in full support of the San José Declaration of Sustainable Hydropower and the sustainable hydropower Standard.

Manufacturers

Andritz

Wolfgang Semper, CEO of Andritz, said: “We proactively support measure sand initiatives that contribute towards improving the sustainability of hydropower projects such as the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”

Carpi Tech

Dr Alberto M. Scuero, Managing Director of Carpi Tech, said: “Following the launch of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, Carpi Tech will only support projects that we believe are aligned with good practice as defined by the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, and the best way for project owners to demonstrate this is through certification.”

GE Renewable Energy

Pascal Radue, President and CEO of GE Renewable Energy Hydro Solutions, commented: “Fighting climate change is the only way to preserve the planet we live on. This requires industry to take many, sometimes difficult, steps towards this goal. At GE Renewable Energy Hydro Solutions, I am pleased to announce that we will not participate in hydropower projects which do not fully comply with the requirements set forth in the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”

SMEC

Hari Poologasundram, CEO of SMEC, commented: “We are also committed to continuing to guide our clients to certify their projects under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard”.    

Voith Hydro

Uwe Wehnhardt, President and CEO of Voith Hydro, said: “Voith shares the principle that going forward, the only acceptable hydropower is sustainable hydropower and encourages project owners to demonstrate this through certification against the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.”

International Organisations

International Energy Agency

IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol said: “We welcome the work done on [the] Hydropower Sustainability Standard by the Hydropower Sustainability Council and IHA in assembling a multi-stakeholder group and creating tools which set out best practices for the sector. While there is a strong potential for hydropower projects to grow, and I hope it will grow, it is important that new hydropower projects are in line with sustainability standards and this is in my view critical for the next years to come.”

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Enquiries

Make an enquiry about certification by contacting the Hydropower Sustainability Council secretariat at sustainability@hydropower.org

Notes to Editors:

The Hydropower Sustainability Council is a governing body constituted by social, community and environmental organisations, governments, commercial and development banks and the hydropower sector. Council representatives are from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)  and WWF, the governments of Nepal, Norway and Switzerland, Hydro-Québec, Voith Hydro, Sarawak Energy, the World Bank, among others. The Council governs the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, which is based on an assessment framework first developed in 2007-2010 in the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and associated guidelines and tools. Learn more

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is a non-profit membership organisation committed to sustainable hydropower. The association’s mission is to advance sustainable hydropower by building and sharing knowledge on its role in renewable energy systems, responsible freshwater management and climate change solutions. IHA’s sustainability division provides secretariat support to the Hydropower Sustainability Council.

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