North America |
More than a mark of assurance
For more than 20 years, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute in the US has provided an independent, science-based analysis of a hydropower project’s impacts on its ecosystem
RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS BECOME something of a buzzword in recent years, but hydropower facilities have been renewably powering communities for over 100 years. Over the past two decades, however, there have been significant changes in state and federal regulations, policy objectives, and the general public’s awareness of renewable energy including hydropower, and its role in addressing climate change. The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) was formed to evaluate and certify hydropower projects in the US based on their environmental, recreational, and cultural aspects. To this day, LIHI remains the only nationwide, independent programme to certify hydropower projects as low impact. LIHI was created in 1999 with a three-fold mission:
● Establish science-based criteria that characterise low-impact hydropower.
● Run an independent program to certify facilities that meet the established criteria.
● Educate the public about the impacts of hydropower.
Above: The eight LIHI Criteria, as outlined in the 2nd Edition Handbook: Ecological Flow Regimes, Water Quality, Upstream and Downstream Fish Passage, Shoreline and Watershed Protection, Threatened and Endangered Species Protection, Cultural and Historic Resources Protection, and Recreational Resource
LIHI received its first application for certification in 2000. As of May 2022, the Low Impact Certified portfolio now consists of 172 active certificates, encompassing 294 dams and powerhouses on 99 rivers, in 24 states across the US. In totality, this represents 4.25GW of capacity and 16,066GWh of annual generation. These projects vary from tens of kilowatts to hundreds of megawatts, with a range of operating regimes: run-of-river, run-of-release, store- and-release, conduit, and many variations therein. LIHI Certified facilities provide stewardship of over 1100 river miles, 1180 recreational amenities, and operate over 160 fish passage structures. Of LIHI Certified facilities, 94% ensure the protection of threatened and endangered flora and fauna and 64% have cultural and historic resources present that they also protect. The LIHI Certification Handbook, which guides
programme implementation, was first published in 2000 and substantially updated after over ten years of public, governing board, and staff input. These revisions reflect the ever-evolving understanding of each hydropower project’s site-specific socio-
environmental impacts. The 2nd Edition Handbook, published in 2016, includes alternative methods and standards by which applicants can demonstrate that their facilities meet the LIHI Criteria. The emphasis moved away from relying solely on recommendations by governmental agencies to a focus on whether a project satisfies science-based standards for each criterion.
Initially, certificates were awarded on a two-year basis that was later extended to five years with an opportunity for an additional three years for exemplary shoreline or watershed management. Recently, the base certification term was extended to ten years. Additionally, applicants are now able to secure an extra three to five years on their certification term based on a demonstration of extraordinary achievement in each criterion. At the same time, the program has been enhanced to ensure that facility changes made during the course of a certificate term are evaluated for their potential impacts.
Outside of the Certification programme, LIHI has been involved in shaping how hydropower is included in energy policy and markets around the country. In states like Massachusetts and Oregon, LIHI is utilised in their renewable portfolio standards, with certification acting as a proxy for exhibiting the environmental standards required for hydropower to qualify as a renewable energy source. The Centre for Resource Solutions established
the Green-e Framework for Renewable Energy Certification as the first voluntary renewable energy credit (REC) market. LIHI was fortunate to provide the catalyst for hydropower’s inclusion in this programme and LIHI Certification is still utilised as a qualifier for the program today. There has also been a rise in Community Choice Aggregators and corporate procurement showing interest in hydropower. In these purchase agreements, LIHI Certification is able provide consumer confidence that the energy generated is done so in an environmentally and socially sound manner.
US focus LIHI currently only certifies hydropower projects
Right: The Willamette Falls Project on the Willamette River in Clackamas County, Oregon – LIHI Certificate No. 33
20 | June 2022 |
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in the US and does not certify projects that involve construction of new dams or water diversions, pumped storage projects, or marine hydrokinetic projects. The International Hydropower Association recently released the Hydropower Sustainability Standard which is more appropriate for new hydropower development. Since only a mere three percent of dams in the US have hydropower, LIHI is focused on the ongoing impacts from operating hydro projects and the impacts of new generation on existing
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