Better Hydro: Compendium of Case Studies 2017 presents examples of excellence in specific aspects of sustainable hydropower development. The case studies have been compiled through a collaboration between the International Hydropower Association and the World Bank Group.

The collection of 34 case studies is based on assessments carried out under the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, a tool developed through multi-stakeholder consensus that measures the sustainability of projects across a range of social, environmental, economic and technical considerations.

Topic case studies focus on specific aspects of development, such as ‘indigenous people’, ‘cultural heritage’, ‘economic viability’, and ‘water quality’ (23 are covered in total). In addition, the publication features five project-wide case studies that cover a broad geographical scope and focus on different stages of project development. Finally, six more general initiatives demonstrating innovative local and regional approaches are also detailed.

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This report provides an overview of the discussions that took place at the 2017 World Hydropower Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission. It includes the speeches that were delivered in the high-level segments of the conference, as well as summaries of the presentations and exchanges that happened during the technical and business segments.

This report also gives us an opportunity to extend our warm thanks to the event's organising partners, and to the additional fifty organisations which took part in shaping and supporting the programme, which extended over five days.

The 2017 World Hydropower Congress Handbook is the essential guide to the event, including full details of the programme, speakers, venue, facilities and study tours.

The handbook also includes special features on hydropower and interconnections in Africa, sustainable development, long-distance transmission and risk management.

More than just an event guide, the handbook is a directory of experts on a range of hydropower topics. It features:

• Forewords by Ethiopia's minister for water, irrigation and electricity, African Union commssioner for infrastructure and energy, UNECA executive secretary, IHA chief executive, GEIDCO chairman, and World Bank Group vice president for sustainable development
• Profiles of over 100 speakers participating in the congress
• An overview of each and every session, with a background to topics
• Special topic feature articles
• Details of post-congress study tours, which visit some of Africa's technical developments and cultural sites
• Information about the range of organisations involved in creating the congress
• Venue maps and floor plans
• General information for delegates

The International Hydropower Association gathers statistics and monitors deployment and use throughout the year. 2017 Key Trends in Hydropower reveals that 31.5 GW of new hydropower capacity was added around the world in 2016. The figure includes 6.4 GW of pumped storage – nearly twice the amount commissioned the previous year.

The briefing also analyses the most significant recent developments in the hydropower sector worldwide.

The briefing includes graphical information on:

• Hydropower capacity commissioned in 2016 by region
• Global total installed hydropower capacity at the end of 2016, broken down by leading countries
• Worldwide distribution of pumped storage capacity at the end of 2016
• Hydropower's contribution by region in terms of installed capacity, generation and technical potential

2017 Key Trends in Hydropower precedes the 2017 Hydropower Status Report, which will provide more in-depth analysis by region and will be published in May 2017 at the 2017 World Hydropower Congress.

Hydropower, as an affordable, reliable and sustainable source of electricity, has played an important role in the growth and industrialisation of many emerging market economies such as Laos, Kenya, Sarawak (Malaysia), China (1980s and 90s), and Brazil, to list just a few.

Nevertheless, the hydropower potential of many emerging market countries remains undeveloped due to the difficulties surrounding project bankability, particularly the credit risk of domestic offtakers, and a risk reward imbalance in the eyes of investors.

The governments and state-owned utilities of some of these countries may have the option of exporting hydropower production to a neighbouring country for the development of such potential. Opportunities for export can offer many benefits when compared with a hydropower project established exclusively for domestic production, but also present unique risks.

This briefing explores the opportunities and the challenges of power trade for the hydropower sector.

With growing populations and livelihoods, managing freshwater will be one of the major tasks for society in the foreseeable future. Infrastructure including hydropower facilities will play an increasing role in multipurpose freshwater management.

This briefing describes examples of projects in Tajikistan and Iceland, where climate resilience has been incorporated into the modernisation of existing hydropower facilities.

These case studies illustrate how organisations worldwide have considered the risks associated with a more variable and extreme climate in the modernisation of their projects. The briefing also outlines the need for the development of industry guidance on best practice in climate risk management in hydropower operations.

It has long been accepted that every hydropower project is unique, and that bespoke design solutions are required for each project. It has also been recognised more recently that the market and concession arrangements for each project require tailored financing solutions.

With the plethora of financial instruments and funding sources now available, including new products such a green bonds, there is great scope for innovation, and bespoke solutions can be developed to suit the needs of individual developers.

This briefing explores trends in hydropower financing in 2016, including:

• problems with the BOOT mechanism
• the impact of cheap oil and gas
• re-engagement of the multilaterals
• donor-backed finance
• public–private finance
• commercial bonds
• green bonds
• innovative mixed finance

The briefing is authored by Mike McWilliams, head of hydropower at Mott MacDonald. It is also featured in the 2016 Hydropower Status Report.

The 2016 Hydropower Status Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent development and trends in the sector around the world.

The report includes:

• An overview of regional trends, highlighting new capacity added in 2015
• 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 the deployment of pumped storage worldwide
• A selection of country profiles where significant activity is taking place
• Updates and case studies on key topics including climate resilience, hydropower finance, resettlement and indigenous people

The report is 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.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

The International Hydropower Association gathers statistics and monitors deployment and use throughout the year. 2016 Key Trends in Hydropower reveals that 33 GW of new hydropower capacity was added around the world in 2015 (including 2.5 GW of pumped storage), and highlights key recent trends in the sector.

The briefing includes graphical information on:

• Hydropower capacity commissioned in 2015 by region
• Global total intalled hydropower capacity at the end of 2015, broken down by leading countries
• Worldwide distribution of pumped storage capacity at the end of 2015
• Hydropower's contribution by region in terms of installed capacity, generation and technical potential

2015 Key Trends in Hydropower precedes the 2016 Hydropower Status Report, which will provide more in-depth analysis by region and will be published in April 2016.

The 2015 Hydropower Status Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent development and trends in the sector around the world.

The report includes:

• An overview of global trends, highlighting new capacity added in 2014
• 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 selection of country profiles where significant activity is taking place
• Updates on key topics including climate change and the water–energy nexus
• Case studies highlighting hydropower's role in the renewable energy mix

The report is 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.

Please contact us to enquire about membership.

The hydropower sector’s contribution to a sustainable and prosperous Europe is a new macroeconomic study of hydropower in Europe. It outlines both the direct and indirect macroeconomic benefits of hydropower in the 28 European Union (EU) member states, alongside Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.

The International Hydropower participated in the study, which was conducted by DNV GL, a technical consultancy, on behalf of 21 hydropower companies. It is the most comprehensive assessment of European hydropower to date.

The study's findings include that hydropower:

• Accounts for 18 per cent of Europe's total electricity generation as well as more than 150 GW of firm capacity;
• Provides 220 TWh of storage capacity in Europe;
• Contributes EUR 25 billion to the EU's GDP and EUR 38 billion to Europe's total GDP;
• Currently provides 80,000 high-qualified jobs in the EU and 120,000 in Europe. The job value creation per person is eight times higher than the European average in the manufacturing sector.

So-called ‘green’ bonds have swiftly moved from a standing start in 2007–08 to being worth in the region of USD 37bn by the end of 2014 and as an asset class appear to be here to stay.

Hydropower and the Rise of Green Bonds looks at the growth and evolution of the green bonds market, and how hydropower fits into the picture.

The need for water as energy storage for better integration of renewables is a policy brief produced by the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) in colloboration with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and the Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy (CEDREN).

The brief follows a seminar on the subject convened by the three organisations at 2014 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

The brief explores water as energy storage in the context of the water–energy nexus, and how the planning, operation and management of storage or pumped-storage hydropower needs to adopt a nexus perspective.

It includes three case studies:

• The island El Hierro, Spain: 100 per cent renewable energy by integrating wind and solar energy with pumped hydro on a small scale
• Integration of wind and hydro power in Ethiopia: large opportunities for a developing country
• Hydro as a carrier for both off- and on-grid electrification and as energy storage for better integration of renewables in Mozambique

The document contains brief details of the additions to each update of the G-res tool.

This document provides a step-by-step guide describing how to use the Earth Engine functionality and how to link the information obtained with the appropriate fields of the G-res tool itself.

The Hydropower Report of IHA is an annual publication that takes an expanded look at hydropower-related developments around the world, as well as giving a review of our activities for the year.

Building on previous activity reports, the 2013 Hydropower Report has an expanded section on the hydropower sector globally and regionally, and reviews our activities over the last year.

The report includes:

• An overview of global trends, with key figures for the past 12 months
• Expanded reports on developments in the hydropower sector at a regional level
• Review of our activities, including sustainability, hydropower development and communications
• Information about our meetings and events, including the upcoming IHA 2013 World Congress

A major milestone has been reached in the UNESCO/IHA Greenhouse Gas Status of Freshwater Reservoirs project, with the launch of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs, a landmark publication and the current standard on measuring emissions from reservoirs.

The publication provides individuals responsible in this area with a comprehensive tool to assess the GHG status of freshwater reservoirs, including definitive guidance on measurement and qualification of emissions resulting from the formation of reservoirs.

The guidance covers:

• Concepts and processes involved in making such measurements
• The approach to conducting field measurements
• Guidance on calculating results

With the concept of global application being at the forefront of the development of the GHG Measurement Guidelines, we have ensured that the methodology contained within the publication is applicable to all climate types and reservoir conditions.

By providing the tools required to determine net GHG emissions in a selected set of reservoirs, our intention is to ensure that the results gained will be utilised to develop predictive tools, thereby avoiding the necessity of such intensive field measurements in the future. We anticipate that shared results from the use of these guidelines will contribute to this intention.