China Institute of Water Resources (IWHR) and IHA sign cooperation agreement.

China has built over two-thirds of the world's new installed hydropower capacity in the past 20 years. It now has almost two and half times as much capacity as any other country. As the rest of the world wakes up to the need for increased capacity, much of it will look to Chinese expertise, technology and capital to build. IHA has an important role to help China to help the rest of the world.

IHA and the China Institute of Water Resources (IWHR) have signed a cooperation agreement this month, which will strengthen their partnership to promote sustainable hydropower around the world.

As part of the collaboration, IWHR will continue to host the IHA China National Office. This agreement and the presence of IHA’s representative office in China will further strengthen links between IHA and Chinese stakeholders and better represent China’s experience and priorities in the association’s global activities.

As part of the agreement IWHR will support the association in the following key areas: membership, advocacy and communications, data collection, sustainability and the 2023 World Hydropower Congress. The memorandum also serves as an opportunity to expand the Hydropower Sustainability Standard’s application in China and Chinese investments overseas and ensure members respect commitments to protect World Heritage Sites as highlighted in the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower.

Eddie Rich, IHA CEO celebrated signing the agreement:

“China is the pre-eminent hydropower country and has done more to advance its role in meeting its net zero targets than any other country. Chinese companies are helping other countries deliver on their necessary capacity increases to global net zero goals and clean energy and water needs. This partnership with IHWR showcases IHA’s dedication to sustainable hydropower in China and beyond.”

“We are very pleased to continue working closely with IHA to include Chinese stakeholders in the association’s global advocacy efforts and accelerate the clean energy transition around the world,” commented IWHR.

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