Spotlight |
Helping small hydro make a bigger impact
The World Small Hydropower Development Report has been described as the most comprehensive report which has gone above and beyond in its latest edition. In this collaboration between the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the International Centre on Small Hydro Power, small hydro’s status and future
potential are assessed, while the impacts of climate change and a thought-provoking look at how small hydro can help to close the gender gap, are also highlighted
OVER 60 PERCENT OF global small hydropower (SHP) potential remains untapped which means there are still vast opportunities to use it for the benefit of local communities and the planet, said Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). Writing in the foreword of the fourth edition of
Above: Improvements in women’s health and education have been well-illustrated in countries such as Nepal after small hydro has electrified small villages
the World Small Hydropower Development Report (WSHDR2022), which was developed in partnership with the International Centre on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP), Müller said that in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, livelihoods, economic progress, and social stability have been severely impacted worldwide, with progress towards sustainable energy goals being hindered.
“In such a critical moment when multiple crises are coming together, we need a decisive collective effort to follow through on the goals the world community agreed on to build sustainable energy systems. We must make sure that renewable energy development is a top priority at all levels of decision-making. In the face of this challenge,” he stated, “it is especially critical to continue to collect and share knowledge about the various renewable energy technologies. Small hydropower is one of such solutions.” Describing small hydro as a simple, adaptable, and low-cost technology that has long played a key part in providing access to sustainable and reliable electricity around the world, Müller said it is particularly
Right: Future small hydro forecasts must include climate change predictions. Increased flow may present more opportunities, but flooding may also damage hydro plants Editorial credit: afad tuncay /
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suitable for remote and marginalised communities due to its adaptability to local needs and conditions, especially in remote areas with low-density energy demands. When planned with environmental and socio-economic considerations in mind, it can provide the foundations to empower communities, improve livelihoods and foster more development opportunities. “Small hydropower offers one answer to many questions posed by the pandemic, climate crisis and energy transition for achieving the commitments under the Paris Agreement,” Müller stated. In an effort to support policymakers, communities,
potential developers and other stakeholders interested in developing small hydropower projects, UNIDO and ICSHP launched this report that prides itself on being a much-needed global resource. Today, it claims to be the only publication dedicated to the dissemination of in-depth information on SHP development. The culmination of an enormous collective effort
of more than 200 local and regional experts from across the globe, including engineers, academics and government officials, the current edition not only aims to provide an update on small hydro status by country, but strives to improve data accuracy with enhanced analysis and a more comprehensive overview with 20 regional chapters, 166 country chapters, 12 case studies, three thematic publications, as well as a global database of existing and planned plants.
12 | November 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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