Tools
A range of tools developed by IHA and partners help hydropower professionals to build knowledge on good practices in project development, operations and sustainability.
Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines
The Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines on Good International Industry Practice define expected sustainability performance for the hydropower sector across a range of environmental, social, technical and governance topics.
The 26 guidelines present definitions of the processes and outcomes relating to good practice in the planning, operation and implementation of hydropower projects. As a compendium, the guidelines are a reference document for meeting the expectations of lenders, regulators, and consumers.
For more information, visit the webpage.
Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol
The internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol is a tool for assessing hydropower project performance against a comprehensive range of social, environmental, technical and economic criteria.
The protocol was shaped by representatives from governments, commercial and development banks, social and environmental NGOs and the hydropower sector. It was updated in July 2018 to cover climate mitigation and resilience.
For more information, visit the protocol webpage.
Hydropower Sustainability ESG Gap Analysis Tool
The Hydropower Sustainability Environmental, Social and Governance Gap Analysis Tool allows hydropower project proponents and investors to identify and address gaps against international good practice.
Launched in July 2018, the ESG Gap Analysis Tool also provides an action plan to help project teams to address any gaps within a reasonable timeframe.
For more information, visit the tool webpage.
G-res Tool
The GHG Reservoir (G-res) Tool was designed to help hydropower companies and researchers estimate and report the net greenhouse gas emissions of a reservoir.
It was created through a multi-stakeholder research project led by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and the UNESCO Chair for Global Environmental Change.
The tool uses a conceptual framework created with scientists from the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), the Norwegian Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) and the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (LUKE).
Fore more information, please visit the G-res Tool webpage.
Pumped Storage Tracking Tool
IHA's Hydropower Pumped Storage Tracking Tool maps the locations and vital statistics for existing and planned pumped storage projects. It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date online resource on the world's water batteries.
The tool is designed for policy-makers, investors and researchers. It shows the status of a pumped storage project, its installed generating and pumping capacity, and its actual or planned date of commissioning.
Fore more information, please visit the Pumped Storage Tracking Tool webpage.
Sediment Management Knowledge Hub
The International Hydropower Association (IHA), together with the World Bank hosted South Asia Water Initiative (SAWI), launched the Hydropower Sediment Management Knowledge Hub to promote strategies and case studies for effective sediment management.
The objective of this knowledge-building tool is to help hydropower developers and researchers implement and refine sediment management strategies based on real-life industry experiences and practices.
Fore more information, please visit the Sediment Management Knowledge Hub.