Presentation on the 2020 Hydropower Status Report.

This PowerPoint slide pack includes headline information and infographics on worldwide hydropower installed capacity and generation data.

These slides can be used in external presentations provided the source is credited as 'International Hydropower Association (IHA), 2020 Hydropower Status Report'.

To download the full report pdf please visit the publication page.

Learn more: www.hydropower.org/statusreport

The Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines on Good International Industry Practice (HGIIP) define performance expectations for hydropower projects.

The 26 guidelines cover a range of environmental, social and governance topics. Each guideline presents definitions of the processes and outcomes relating to good practice in project planning, operation and implementation.

As a compendium, the guidelines are a reference document for meeting the expectations of lenders, regulators and communities. Compliance with the guidelines can be specified in commercial contracts between financiers and developers, and developers and contractors. Learn more.

The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) is a tool for assessing projects across a range of social, environmental, technical and economic criteria.

Assessments are based on objective evidence and the results are presented in a standardised way, making it easy to see how existing facilities are performing and how well new projects are being developed.

The Assessment Protocol covers all stages of a project's lifestyle: planning, preparation, implementation and operation.

‍Find out more.

The Hydropower Sustainability ESG Gap Analysis Tool (HESG) enables project proponents to identify and address gaps against international good practice.

The gap analysis tool is based on the framework of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, assessing projects according to environmental, social and governance criteria.

The tool is divided into 12 sections which are compatible with IFC Environmental and Social Performance Standards and the World Bank’s new Environmental and Social Framework.

The tool is published by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) under the mandate of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council. Learn more.

IHA's 2019-2020 Annual Report outlines our contribution to global decision-making on hydropower and renewable energy, and our initiatives to advance sustainability and share best practices across the sector.

“Now, more than ever, collaboration and dialogue are needed to advance global sustainable energy and the transformation towards a low-carbon energy future,” writes IHA President Roger Gill in his foreword.

“IHA, under the mandate given to us by our members to advance sustainable hydropower, will continue working vigorously with our members, partners and wider stakeholders to deliver the ambition needed to tackle present and future threats and realise the opportunities ahead.”

The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide supports owners and developers of hydropower projects identify, assess and manage climate risks to enhance the resilience of hydropower projects.

The guide helps to make informed decisions about how to plan, build, upgrade and operate hydropower systems in the face of increasingly variable climatic and hydrological conditions.

It responds to the need for international industry good practice on how to incorporate climate resilience into hydropower project planning, design and operations. The guide seeks to evolve from the default use of historical data and the assumption that hydrological variability will remain the same over the lifetime of a project. The guide also addresses how best to access, use and interpret climate change modelling and observed climate data.

The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide was developed with the financial and technical support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank Group and its Korea Green Growth Trust Fund.

The Russian translation was supported by EBRD.

The Report on the 2019 World Hydropower Congress is a comprehensive account of the world's most important gathering of hydropower decision-makers, experts and innovators.

More than 750 delegates from a record 77 countries participated in the three-day event in Paris, 14-16 May 2019, representing industry, government, social and environmental NGOs, academia, finance and multilateral institutions.

Two-hundred speakers addressed 40 focused sessions and workshops on topics such as sustainability, climate resilience, data solutions, working with indigenous communities and supporting growth in other renewables.

In this report you will find:

• Outcomes of discussions and proposed priorities for action
• Session reports on Clean Energy Systems and Modernisation; Sustainability and Strategic Planning; and Climate Change and Resilience
• Regional sessions reports on Europe, Africa, North America, South & Central America, Latin America, East Asia & Pacific
• Workshop reports on Sediment Management, Climate Change Resilience Guide, Preparing operation and maintenance strategies, Sustainability assessment tools, Hydropower benefit sharing and the Francophone workshop on sustainability and good practices
• Summary of the opening and closing sessions

Visit the World Hydropower Congress website.

13 May 2019

The 2019 Hydropower Status Report offers insights and trends on the hydropower sector.

The sixth edition of the report provides information and statistics on installed capacity and estimated generation by country and by region, as well as articles by five leading government ministers.

Key findings:

• More than 21.8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable hydroelectric capacity was put into operation in 2018.
• Electricity generation from hydropower projects achieved a record 4,200 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2018, the highest ever contribution from a renewable energy source, as worldwide installed hydropower capacity climbed to 1,292 GW, according to the report.
• China added the most capacity with the installation of 8,540 megawatts (MW), followed by Brazil (3,866 MW), Pakistan (2,487 MW), Turkey (1,085 MW), Angola (668 MW), Tajikistan (605 MW), Ecuador (556 MW), India (535 MW), Norway (419 MW) and Canada (401 MW).
• Brazil has now overtaken the United States as the second largest producer of hydroelectricity by installed capacity, after 3,055 MW was put into operation last year at the 11,000 MW Belo Monte complex in the country’s northeast.

Contributions from policy-makers

Government ministers from Canada, Indonesia, Nepal, Uganda and Uruguay contribute policy interventions, each emphasising the need for investment in renewable hydropower to help countries achieve sustainable development.

• Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Amarjeet Sohi, writes about industry efforts to build partnerships with indigenous communities and create long-term economic opportunities.
• Indonesia’s Minister of National Development Planning, Bambang P. Soemantri Brodjonegoro, explains how his country is committed to reducing GHG emissions by 29 per cent by 2030 through developing hydropower and other renewables.
• Nepal’s Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun, writes that his government is aiming to attract foreign investment in hydropower while exploring regional energy interconnections.
• Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Irene Nafuna Muloni, emphasises the need to raise investment capital for hydropower development as a way to widen electricity access and support socio-economic transformation.
• Uruguay’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Guillermo Moncecchi, reports on the strong complementarity between hydropower and other variable renewable energy sources.

PowerPoint

Download the PowerPoint of the 2019 Hydropower Status Report.

Media enquiries

Media requests should be directed to will.henley@hydropower.org

The International Hydropower Association’s Activity and Strategy Report for 2018-2019 provides an overview of our mission to advance sustainable hydropower.

The publication shares highlights from IHA's knowledge building and sustainability programmes, looking at our work to share strategies which strengthen the sector’s performance.

The report also previews the World Hydropower Congress taking place in Paris, 14-16 May 2019. Read the press release.

Knowledge building programmes:

• The status of hydropower: monitoring the sector
• Clean energy systems: highlighting the expansion of hydropower’s role
• Climate mitigation: assessing greenhouse gas emissions
• Climate resilience: developing a guide
• Green bonds: unlocking the market
• Hydropower benefits: better reporting
• Hydropower preparation facility: a model for sustainable projects
• Modernisation: building knowledge on innovation
• Operations and maintenance: advancing innovative strategies
• Regional interconnections: connecting hydropower
• River basin development: promoting collaboration
• Sediment management: identifying good practices

Sustainability programmes

• Supporting a suite of Hydropower Sustainability Tools
• Building sustainable hydropower capacity around the world
• Hydropower sustainability assessor training opportunities

Dans le présent Rapport d'activité et de stratégie 2017-2018, nous décrivons la mission de l'association, à savoir la promotion d'une hydroélectricité durable. Nous revenons sur les réalisations de l'année écoulée et définissons nos objectifs stratégiques pour l'avenir.

En las páginas de este informe sobre estrategia y actividades 2017-2018, explicamos la misión de la asociación para fomentar la energía hidroeléctrica sostenible. Analizamos los resultados del año anterior y nos marcamos unos objetivos estratégicos para el futuro.

Nas páginas deste Relatório de Atividades e Estratégia de 2017-2018, delineamos a missão da associação de promover a hidreletricidade sustentável. Analisamos as realizações do ano passado e definimos nossas metas estratégicas para o futuro.

在《2017-2018年活动和战略报告》中，我们概述了协会促进水力发电可持续发展的使命。我们回顾了过去一年的成就，并制定了我们未来的战略目标。

На страницах данного Отчета о деятельности и стратегии 2017–2018 мы излагаем миссию нашей ассоциации по развитию устойчивой гидроэнергетики. Мы анализируем достижения за прошлый год и формулируем стратегические цели на будущее.

DOWNLOAD REPORT

24 May 2018

The 2018 Hydropower Status Report offers insights and trends on the hydropower sector.

Now in its fifth edition, the report provides information and statistics on installed capacity and estimated generation by country and by region, articles by leading energy and environment ministers, and results of a sector-wide survey on the future of hydropower.

Key findings:

• A record 4,185 terawatt hours (TWh) in electricity was generated from hydropower in 2017, avoiding up to 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases as well as harmful pollutants.
• Worldwide hydropower installed capacity rose to 1,267 gigawatts (GW) in 2017, including 153 GW of pumped storage. During the year, 21.9 GW of capacity was added including 3.2 GW of pumped storage.
• Growth was fastest in East Asia and the Pacific, with 9.8 GW of capacity added in 2017, followed by South America (4.1 GW), South and Central Asia (3.3 GW), Europe (2.3 GW), Africa (1.9 GW) and North and Central America (0.5 GW).
• China is the world’s largest producer of hydropower, and accounted for nearly half of global added installed capacity, at 9.1 GW. It was followed by Brazil (3.4 GW), India (1.9 GW), Portugal (1.1 GW) and Angola (1.0 GW).
• 58.4 per cent of surveyed hydropower decision-makers and professionals expect to expand their company's installed capacity in the next three years, while 51.7 per cent of respondents expect to increase investments in hydropower over the next three years.

A clean source of electricity

The report publishes findings from a study of the greenhouse gas footprint of 500 large hydropower reservoirs. The research used a new tool to assess net emissions and found hydropower’s median emissions intensity to be just 18.5 gCO2-eq/kWh.

By generating electricity from hydropower instead of coal, in 2017 the world prevented up to 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases – and avoided a 10 per cent rise in global emissions from fossil fuels and industry. It also avoided 148 million tonnes of air polluting particulates, 62 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide, and 8 million tonnes of nitrogen oxide from being emitted.

Contributions from policy-makers

Leading energy and environment ministers from Australia, Ethiopia, Sarawak, Malaysia, and Scotland, UK, have contributed to the 2018 report, explaining how investment in hydropower is supporting national development priorities and the clean energy transition:

• Australia - Minister for the Environment and Energy, Hon Josh Frydenberg MP
• Ethiopia - Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, Hon Seleshi Bekele
• Sarawak, Malaysia - Chief Minister Yab Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg
• Scotland, United Kingdom - Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse MSP

Media enquiries

Media requests should be directed to communications@hydropower.org

Infographics

Download infographics from the report here: www.hydropower.org/keyfacts2018

An additional 78,000 MW in clean energy storage capacity is expected to come online by 2030 from hydropower reservoirs fitted with pumped storage technology, according to this working paper from the International Hydropower Association (IHA).

Below are some of the paper's key messages and findings.

• Pumped storage hydropower (PSH), 'the world’s water battery’, accounts for over 94% of installed global energy storage capacity, and retains several advantages such as lifetime cost, levels of sustainability and scale. The existing 161,000 MW of pumped storage capacity supports power grid stability, reducing overall system costs and sector emissions.
• A bottom up analysis of energy stored in the world’s pumped storage reservoirs using IHA’s stations database estimates total storage to be up to 9,000 GWh.
• PSH operations and technology are adapting to the changing power system requirements incurred by variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. Variable-speed and ternary PSH systems allow for faster and wider operating ranges, providing additional flexibility at all timescales, enabling higher penetrations of VRE at lower system costs.
• As traditional revenue streams become more unpredictable and markets are slow to appropriately reward flexibility, PSH needs to secure new sources of reliable and long term revenue in order to attract investment, particularly in liberalised energy markets.
• Driven by the increasing penetration of wind and solar, reduced dispatchable generation and the need for greater grid flexibility, an additional 78,000 MW or an increase of nearly 50% of PSH capacity is expected to be commissioned by 2030. This could further increase with the right policy settings and market rules.

Read the press release

Learn more about pumped storage hydropower

IHA's Activity and Strategy Report 2017–2018 outlines the association's mission and activities to advance sustainable hydropower.

The report features:

• Introduction to IHA: summarising our vision, mission and values
• IHA's strategy and action to build and share knowledge
• Benefits of membership and knowledge networks
• Knowledge building programmes: how we are supporting the hydropower sector
• Sustainability: the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and related tools
• Awards: details on the IHA Blue Planet Prize, Mosonyi Award and Young Researcher of the Year prize
• World Hydropower Congress: a look back on Addis Ababa in May 2017
• Membership directory: meet our diverse community of members, who are active in over 100 countries

Translations are available in Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

How useful are these translated versions? Let us know by voting in our online poll.

Read the news release.

The 2017 Hydropower Status Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments and trends in the sector around the world.

The report includes:

• an overview of regional trends, highlighting new capacity added in 2016
• detailed regional analysis of new capacity installations, projects in the pipeline and policy development
• maps and data visualisations of deployment, generation, potentials, and more
• a new map and infographic on long-distance transmission development
• 17 new country profiles
• analyis of key topics including:
• climate resilience
• greenhouse gas emissions
• green bonds
• electricity storage
• multipurpose reservoir
• long-distance transmission
• operations and maintenance
• sediment managament and more
• sustainability assessment

The report is compiled from data driven by our hydropower database of the world's hydropower stations and companies, built in collaboration with regulators, ministries and electricity associations, as well as the world’s station owners and operators. It also incorporates insights from our annual issues survey, which was fielded to a broad cross-section of hydropower professionals in December 2016.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.