Hydropower has evolved significantly over the past 75 years, from powering China’s Han Dynasty, to providing a key component of sustainable energy delivery worldwide. Hydropower’s history showcases a journey of developments in renewables technology, as well as a rising focus on sustainability and positive community impact.
Hydropower has always been closely linked with jumpstarting economic growth. In 1827, French engineer Benoit Fourneyron developed a turbine capable of producing around 6 horsepower (approximately 4400 watts). In the 19th century, significant innovations like the Francis turbine and the Pelton wheel transformed the scope and efficiency of hydroelectric projects. These inventions made it possible for the first hydroelectric project in history to be completed in 1878, lighting a single lamp at the Cragside country estate in England.
Despite early successes, budgetary limitations and increasing concerns about the effects on the environment and local communities in the late 20th century caused the rise of hydropower capacity to stall. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) published a report in 2000 that challenged existing practices and sparked a shift in hydropower development towards more sustainable approaches to development. The International Hydropower Association (IHA), established in 1995, published its first sustainability guidelines in 2004, highlighting the importance of responsible project design and community involvement. This was followed by the development of The Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), the internationally recognised and independent certification system for sustainability in the hydropower sector. Representatives from governments, civil society, financial institutions, and industry collectively designed and now govern the HS Standard via the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance launched at the World Hydropower Congress on 31 October 2023.
Sebzor HPP in Tajikistan and Eastmain-1 Development in Hydro-Québec are two examples of projects in recent years that have recently attained certifications against the Standard. Hydro-Québec’s accomplishment stands as an example for others, where sustainability is not just a goal but an integral part of their business practices.
Global commitments to triple renewable capacity and to double energy efficiency gains by 2030 increase the need for sustainable hydropower to provide the backbone to flexible energy grids. However, the world is still far from meeting its climate targets, and there is an urgent need for accelerated hydropower construction.
Looking ahead, sustainable hydropower continues to be the reliable, flexible, and clean solution to combat climate change. Optimising hydropower’s potential to promote sustainable development and mitigate climate change requires modernising existing infrastructure, streamlining licencing procedures, and enacting legislation that incorporates sustainability principles. By sticking to these principles, hydropower can continue evolving as of the backbone to the world’s clean energy transition.
This article first appeared in International Water Power Magazine.
