International Hydropower Association
Encyclopedia
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is a not-for-profit, international organization representing the hydropower
sector - focussed in particular on electricity generation
, water management
, and related industries. The IHA has members in more than 80 countries drawn from organisations and individuals in industry, international organisations, governments, scientific and academic institutions, and civil society. The organization states one of its purposes is to "address[...] the role of hydropower
in meeting the world’s growing water and energy needs as a clean, renewable and sustainable technology".
in 1995 as a forum to promote and disseminate good practice and further knowledge about hydropower
. The organisation has a Central Office based in London
, United Kingdom
and representative offices and affiliated organizations in Africa
, the Americas, Asia
, Australasia
, Europe
and the Middle East
.
’s role in meeting the world’s water and energy needs by:
, Canada
, France
, Nepal
, and South Africa
), a further 15 board members (from Australia
, Brazil
, Canada
, China
, France
, Germany
, Iceland
, India
, Norway
, Russia
, and Turkey
), and the Executive Director , Richard Taylor (UK), a non-voting board member position. The board aims in its composition for a balanced geographic distribution of representation and conducts its affairs, including two-yearly elections, according to a formal written constitution and by-laws. The Board is supported by a Central Office, the administrative arm of the IHA. There are also a number of ad-hoc sub-committees and working groups on strategic and topical issues formed pursuant to Board resolutions.
, United Kingdom
, managed by the Executive Director, Richard Taylor, and Programme Director, Cameron Ironside, supported by a number of expert and administrative personnel.
in international governmental and sector water, energy, and climate change fora and in the media - promoting a fact-based, balanced, consensus-building approach. The organisation is drawn on as a source for statistics on hydropower
for authoritative world energy and renewable energy publications such as the REN21
Global Status Reports and IIASA
Global Energy Assessment (GEA).
IHA has consultative and/or observer status with all United Nations agencies addressing water, energy and climate change and cooperates and collaborates with international organisations with interests in renewable energy such as IEA
, WEC
, and the World Bank
. It is an active participant in the International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA
) founded in Bonn, Germany, on 26 January 2009.
IHA is a founding member of International Renewable Energy Alliance
(REN Alliance) was formed on 4 June 2004, in Bonn
, Germany
, by the International Geothermal Association (IGA), the International Solar Energy Society
(ISES), and the World Wind Energy Association
(WWEA). The World Bioenergy Association (WBA) subsequently joined the REN Alliance in June 2009.
, climate change
, water, energy, and markets and investment - these include the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and the UNESCO / IHA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Status of Freshwater Reservoirs Research Project.
The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol a comprehensive tool to assess the sustainability
of hydropower
projects globally, was launched in June 2011 at the International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower. It provides a thorough, evidence-based assessment of between 19-23 relevant sustainability topics, depending on the development stage of the project.
The Protocol is the product of a rigorous multi-stakeholder development process between 2008 and 2010, involving representatives from social and environmental NGOs (Oxfam
, Nature Conservancy, Transparency International
, WWF
); governments (China
, Germany
, Iceland
, Norway
, Zambia
); commercial and development banks (including banks that are signatory to the Equator Principles
, and the World Bank
); and the hydropower sector, represented by IHA.
The Protocol development process included field trials in 16 countries, across six continents, and stakeholder engagement with 1,933 individuals in 28 countries.
The topics cover the three pillars of sustainability
: social, economic, and environmental, and include issues such as downstream flow regimes, indigenous peoples, biodiversity, infrastructure safety, resettlement, water quality, and erosion and sedimentation.
The assessment tools are used as a framework to produce a sustainability profile for a hydropower project. In so doing, multiple stakeholders can become better informed on the sustainability profile of a project, and develop strategies to address any weaknesses.
The Protocol can be used during all stages of hydropower project development: early stage, preparation, implementation and operation. This new approach to promote continuous improvement in hydropower sustainability has been designed so that the sustainability of hydropower projects can be assessed anywhere in the world, covering a broad range of possible case scenarios.
Both the Protocol and the assessment of specific projects are coordinated, directed and managed by a multi-stakeholder Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council. The mission of the Council is to ensure multi-stakeholder input and confidence in the Protocol content and its application. Structurally, the Council is formed of several Chambers that will involve diverse stakeholders including:
Dr Joerg Hartmann, Water Security Leader, WWF
International was confirmed as the first chair of the Protocol Council’s Governance Committee at the Protocol’s launch in Brazil
, in June 2011.
Implementation of the Protocol in the European Union
is supported through Hydro4LIFE, a European Commission
-funded project. The project is 50% co-funded by the European Commission’s Life+ Environment Policy and Governance programme, and 50% by IHA, with a total budget of €1.2 million. It is coordinated by IHA and runs from 1st September 2010 to 1st September 2013.
In addition, ten international organisations have become early adopters by agreeing to implement the Protocol in at least one hydropower project within their sphere of influence. Known as IHA Sustainability Partners these are: EDF
, E.ON
, Itaipu Binacional, Hydro Equipment Association, Hydro Tasmania
, Landsvirkjun
, Manitoba Hydro
, Odebrecht
, Sarawak Energy, and Statkraft
.
IHA Sustainability Partners receive training on the content and application of the Protocol, an unofficial Protocol assessment (assisted self-assessment) and an official Protocol assessment. Other Sustainability Partner models are also available to meet the relevant needs of participating organisations.
The UNESCO / IHA GHG Status of Freshwater Reservoirs Research Project is hosted by the IHA, in collaboration with the International Hydrological Programme
(IHP) of UNESCO
.
The Project is a global initiative to improve understanding of the impact of reservoirs on natural greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in a river basin. To date, the Project has involved some 160 researchers, scientists and professionals, from more than 100 institutions.
The overall objective of the project is the evaluation of changes in GHG emissions due to the impoundment of freshwater reservoirs. The project deliverables include:
A key milestone in the project was the publication, in 2010, of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs, a comprehensive tool to assess the GHG status of freshwater reservoirs, describing standardised procedures for field measurements and calculation methods to estimate the impact of the creation of a reservoir on a river basin’s overall GHG emissions. The application of these Guidelines to a set of representative reservoirs worldwide allows the building of a reliable, standardised results database, in order to develop the basis for predictive modelling capability.
One of the next activities of the project is to work towards a tool to provide insights into the likelihood of a reservoir site to increase or decrease GHG emissions above the baseline condition.
sector. The first IHA World Congress was held in Antalya
, Turkey
. The second was held in Reykjavik
, Iceland
on 23–26 June 2009, and the third was held in Iguassu, Brazil
on 14-17 June 2011.. The IHA 2013 World Congress will be held in Kuching
, Sarawak
, Malaysia.
, IHA awards the IHA Blue Planet Prize every two years. The prize recognizes outstanding performance in sustainable management of hydropower schemes. The previous recipients of the award are:
A special award was presented by the IHA Board to Prof. Dr. Emil Mosonyi (see: "Mosonyi Emil" in the Magyar
and Deutsch
versions of Wikipedia), IHA Founder and Honorary President, on 20 October 2004 at the closing ceremony of Hydro 2004 in Porto
, Portugal
. This event marked the start of an award series, called the Mosonyi Award, to acknowledge an IHA member's outstanding contribution to hydropower. The terms of the future process will involve the nomination of a candidate by IHA members from three different countries.
REN Alliance and Member Organisations:
Notable/Relevant International Renewable Energy and Related Organisations and Agencies:
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
sector - focussed in particular on electricity generation
Electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
, water management
Water management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
, and related industries. The IHA has members in more than 80 countries drawn from organisations and individuals in industry, international organisations, governments, scientific and academic institutions, and civil society. The organization states one of its purposes is to "address[...] the role of hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
in meeting the world’s growing water and energy needs as a clean, renewable and sustainable technology".
History
The IHA was formed under the auspices of UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1995 as a forum to promote and disseminate good practice and further knowledge about hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
. The organisation has a Central Office based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and representative offices and affiliated organizations in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, the Americas, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Aims
IHA aims to advance hydropowerHydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
’s role in meeting the world’s water and energy needs by:
- Championing continuous improvement and sustainable practices
- Building consensus through strong partnerships with other stakeholders
- Driving initiatives to increase the contribution of renewables, especially hydropowerHydropowerHydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
- Increasing awareness of the role hydropowerHydropowerHydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
can play in sustainable developmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
as an important source of renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
Membership
The IHA has five different membership categories:- Platinum Sponsor: Hydropower sector leaders actively engaged in dialogue on the future of hydropowerHydropowerHydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
and wishing to ensure sufficient financial resources for the work of IHA - Corporate Sponsor: Hydropower sector leaders actively engaged in dialogue on the future of hydropowerHydropowerHydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
- Corporate 1: Organizations with more than 100 hydro-related employees and/or more than 500 MW of hydro capacity
- Corporate 2: Organizations with 25 -100 hydro-related employees and/or 50-500 MW of hydro capacity
- Individual Members: Independent specialists and students working or interested in hydropowerHydropowerHydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
and the renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sector
Organisational structure
IHA is governed by a board elected from its members currently consisting of the President Dr. Refaat Abdel-Malek (US), five Vice-Presidents (from AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
), a further 15 board members (from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
), and the Executive Director , Richard Taylor (UK), a non-voting board member position. The board aims in its composition for a balanced geographic distribution of representation and conducts its affairs, including two-yearly elections, according to a formal written constitution and by-laws. The Board is supported by a Central Office, the administrative arm of the IHA. There are also a number of ad-hoc sub-committees and working groups on strategic and topical issues formed pursuant to Board resolutions.
Headquarters
The IHA Head Office is situated in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, managed by the Executive Director, Richard Taylor, and Programme Director, Cameron Ironside, supported by a number of expert and administrative personnel.
International Policy
IHA acts as a voice of and for hydropowerHydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
in international governmental and sector water, energy, and climate change fora and in the media - promoting a fact-based, balanced, consensus-building approach. The organisation is drawn on as a source for statistics on hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
for authoritative world energy and renewable energy publications such as the REN21
REN21
REN21, the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, is a policy network that provides a forum for international leadership in renewable energy policy, in order to share knowledge and facilitate the rapid growth of renewable energy technologies in developing countries and industrialised...
Global Status Reports and IIASA
IIASA
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis is an international research organization located in Laxenburg, near Vienna, in Austria. IIASA conducts interdisciplinary scientific studies on environmental, economic, technological and social issues in the context of human dimensions of...
Global Energy Assessment (GEA).
IHA has consultative and/or observer status with all United Nations agencies addressing water, energy and climate change and cooperates and collaborates with international organisations with interests in renewable energy such as IEA
International Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
, WEC
World Energy Council
The World Energy Council is a global and inclusive forum for thought-leadership and tangible engagement with headquarters in London. Its mission is 'To promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people'....
, and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
. It is an active participant in the International Renewable Energy Agency
International Renewable Energy Agency
The International Renewable Energy Agency was founded in 2009 to promote widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. IRENA facilitates access to all relevant renewable energy information, including technical data...
(IRENA
Irena
-Other languages:*Irene in English*Irène in French*Eirini or Irini in Greek-People:*Irena Degutienė, Prime Minister in Lithuania*Irena Fleissnerová , Czech breaststroke swimmer...
) founded in Bonn, Germany, on 26 January 2009.
IHA is a founding member of International Renewable Energy Alliance
International Renewable Energy Alliance
International Renewable Energy Alliance is a formal partnership entered into on 4 June 2004 by four non-profit international organisations:* International Hydropower Association ,* International Solar Energy Society ,...
(REN Alliance) was formed on 4 June 2004, in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, by the International Geothermal Association (IGA), the International Solar Energy Society
International Solar Energy Society
The International Solar Energy Society is a global organization for promoting the development and utilisation of renewable energy. ISES is a UN-accredited NGO and David S. Renné is the current president....
(ISES), and the World Wind Energy Association
World Wind Energy Association
The World Wind Energy Association is an international non-profit association representing the wind power sector worldwide, with members in 100 countries, amongst them the leading national and regional wind energy associations...
(WWEA). The World Bioenergy Association (WBA) subsequently joined the REN Alliance in June 2009.
Key initiatives
The IHA is currently undertaking key initiatives in sustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, water, energy, and markets and investment - these include the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and the UNESCO / IHA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Status of Freshwater Reservoirs Research Project.
The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol a comprehensive tool to assess the sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
of hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
projects globally, was launched in June 2011 at the International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower. It provides a thorough, evidence-based assessment of between 19-23 relevant sustainability topics, depending on the development stage of the project.
The Protocol is the product of a rigorous multi-stakeholder development process between 2008 and 2010, involving representatives from social and environmental NGOs (Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
, Nature Conservancy, Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
, WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
); governments (China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
); commercial and development banks (including banks that are signatory to the Equator Principles
Equator Principles
The Equator Principles are a voluntary set of standards for determining, assessing and managing social and environmental risk in project financing....
, and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
); and the hydropower sector, represented by IHA.
The Protocol development process included field trials in 16 countries, across six continents, and stakeholder engagement with 1,933 individuals in 28 countries.
The topics cover the three pillars of sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
: social, economic, and environmental, and include issues such as downstream flow regimes, indigenous peoples, biodiversity, infrastructure safety, resettlement, water quality, and erosion and sedimentation.
The assessment tools are used as a framework to produce a sustainability profile for a hydropower project. In so doing, multiple stakeholders can become better informed on the sustainability profile of a project, and develop strategies to address any weaknesses.
The Protocol can be used during all stages of hydropower project development: early stage, preparation, implementation and operation. This new approach to promote continuous improvement in hydropower sustainability has been designed so that the sustainability of hydropower projects can be assessed anywhere in the world, covering a broad range of possible case scenarios.
Both the Protocol and the assessment of specific projects are coordinated, directed and managed by a multi-stakeholder Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council. The mission of the Council is to ensure multi-stakeholder input and confidence in the Protocol content and its application. Structurally, the Council is formed of several Chambers that will involve diverse stakeholders including:
- environment or conservation organisations
- social impacts, project affected communities, and indigenous peoples' organisations
- development, public or commercial banks, financial organisations, and private investors/ investment funds
- emerging and developing economy country governments
- advanced economy country governments
- hydropower consultants, contractors or equipment suppliers
- hydropower operators or developers
Dr Joerg Hartmann, Water Security Leader, WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
International was confirmed as the first chair of the Protocol Council’s Governance Committee at the Protocol’s launch in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in June 2011.
Implementation of the Protocol in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
is supported through Hydro4LIFE, a European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
-funded project. The project is 50% co-funded by the European Commission’s Life+ Environment Policy and Governance programme, and 50% by IHA, with a total budget of €1.2 million. It is coordinated by IHA and runs from 1st September 2010 to 1st September 2013.
In addition, ten international organisations have become early adopters by agreeing to implement the Protocol in at least one hydropower project within their sphere of influence. Known as IHA Sustainability Partners these are: EDF
EDF
- Military :* Elmendorf Air Force Base, a United States Air Force Base in Alaska* Estonian Defence Forces, military of the Republic of Estonia* European Defence Force, an international military force by the European Council- Organizations :...
, E.ON
E.ON
E.ON AG, marketed with an interpunct as E•ON, is the holding company of the world's largest investor-owned energy service provider based in Düsseldorf, Germany. The name comes from the Greek word aeon which means eternity....
, Itaipu Binacional, Hydro Equipment Association, Hydro Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania, known for most of its history as The HEC, is the government owned enterprise which is the predominant electricity generator in the state of Tasmania, Australia...
, Landsvirkjun
Landsvirkjun
Landsvirkjun is the largest energy producer in Iceland. It was founded in 1965 by the city of Reykjavík and the state of Iceland. Its general purpose is to produce and provide electricity for heavy industry and to sell electricity to local providers around Iceland...
, Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
, Odebrecht
Odebrecht
Odebrecht S.A. is a Brazilian conglomerate in the fields of engineering, construction, chemicals and petrochemicals. The company was founded in 1944 in Salvador da Bahia by Norberto Odebrecht, and is now present in South America, Central America, North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and the...
, Sarawak Energy, and Statkraft
Statkraft
Statkraft is a Norwegian state owned electricity company. With a total energy production of 44.9 TWh in 2007, the Statkraft Group is the third largest energy producer in the Nordic region, as well as the largest energy producer based on renewable energy sources in Europe,consisting of 40% of the...
.
IHA Sustainability Partners receive training on the content and application of the Protocol, an unofficial Protocol assessment (assisted self-assessment) and an official Protocol assessment. Other Sustainability Partner models are also available to meet the relevant needs of participating organisations.
The UNESCO / IHA GHG Status of Freshwater Reservoirs Research Project is hosted by the IHA, in collaboration with the International Hydrological Programme
International Hydrological Programme
The International Hydrological Programme is a scientific programme of UNESCO that focuses on the use and availability of water.- On-line resources :*...
(IHP) of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
The Project is a global initiative to improve understanding of the impact of reservoirs on natural greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
(GHG) emissions in a river basin. To date, the Project has involved some 160 researchers, scientists and professionals, from more than 100 institutions.
The overall objective of the project is the evaluation of changes in GHG emissions due to the impoundment of freshwater reservoirs. The project deliverables include:
- Development of measurement guidance for the evaluation of any change in the pre-existing greenhouse gas emissions
- Promotion of scientifically rigorous measurements on a representative set of reservoirs (in accordance with the above guidance) and recording of the results in a common database
- Development of predictive modelling tools to assess the GHG status of unmonitored reservoirs and potential new reservoir sites
- Development of mitigation guidance for vulnerable sites.
A key milestone in the project was the publication, in 2010, of the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs, a comprehensive tool to assess the GHG status of freshwater reservoirs, describing standardised procedures for field measurements and calculation methods to estimate the impact of the creation of a reservoir on a river basin’s overall GHG emissions. The application of these Guidelines to a set of representative reservoirs worldwide allows the building of a reliable, standardised results database, in order to develop the basis for predictive modelling capability.
One of the next activities of the project is to work towards a tool to provide insights into the likelihood of a reservoir site to increase or decrease GHG emissions above the baseline condition.
IHA World Congress
IHA organises a World Congress bi-annually regarded as the world event in the hydropowerHydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
sector. The first IHA World Congress was held in Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The second was held in Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
on 23–26 June 2009, and the third was held in Iguassu, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on 14-17 June 2011.. The IHA 2013 World Congress will be held in Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Malaysia.
IHA awards
In collaboration with UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, IHA awards the IHA Blue Planet Prize every two years. The prize recognizes outstanding performance in sustainable management of hydropower schemes. The previous recipients of the award are:
- Andhikhola Hydel and Rural Electrification scheme, Nepal (2005)
- Arrow Lakes power plant, Canada (2005)
- Sechelt Creek power plant, Canada (2005)
- Salto Caxias Project, Brazil (2003)
- Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme, South Africa (2003)
- King River Hydropower Development, Tasmania, Australia (2001)
A special award was presented by the IHA Board to Prof. Dr. Emil Mosonyi (see: "Mosonyi Emil" in the Magyar
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
and Deutsch
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
versions of Wikipedia), IHA Founder and Honorary President, on 20 October 2004 at the closing ceremony of Hydro 2004 in Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. This event marked the start of an award series, called the Mosonyi Award, to acknowledge an IHA member's outstanding contribution to hydropower. The terms of the future process will involve the nomination of a candidate by IHA members from three different countries.
Publications
- Hydropower SustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
Assessment Protocol (November 2010) - GHGGHGGHG can be an abbreviation for:* Greenhouse gas* George H. Goble, inventor of multi-CPU Unix systems, refrigerants, and winner of the 1996 Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry.* Marshfield Municipal Airport in Marshfield, Massachusetts....
Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs (2010)
See also
- ElectricityElectricityElectricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
- EnergyEnergyIn physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
- HydroelectricityHydroelectricityHydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
- HydropowerHydropowerHydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
- List of notable renewable energy organizations
- List of public utilities
- REN Alliance
- Renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
- Water managementWater managementWater management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
- Utilities
External links
International Hydropower Association (IHA):- International Hydropower Association (IHA) http://www.hydropower.org
- IHA World Congress 2009 Reykjavik, Iceland 23–26 June 2009 http://www.ihacongress.org
REN Alliance and Member Organisations:
- International Renewable Energy Alliance (REN Alliance) http://www.ren-alliance.org
- International Geothermal Association (IGA) http://iga.igg.cnr.it
- International Solar Energy Society (ISES) http://www.ises.org
- World Bioenergy Association (WBA) http://www.worldbioenergy.org
- World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) http://www.wwindea.org
Notable/Relevant International Renewable Energy and Related Organisations and Agencies:
- International Energy Agency (IEA) http://www.iea.org
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) http://www.irena.org
- World Energy Council (WEC) http://www.worldenergy.org