Hydropower is not only a provider of energy, but also an enabler for power systems to deliver secure, affordable, and clean electricity, and for river systems to provide multipurpose water and ecosystem services and climate change adaptation.
The ESMAP Hydropower Development Facility (HDF) is well placed to support client countries with the development of sustainable, flexible hydropower projects that will enable the energy transition. The program includes knowledge generation and project and country grants to support four core areas to sustainably advance rehabilitation and greenfield hydropower development:
- Environmental and social impact assessments
- Feasibility studies
- Project implementation
- Capacity building and project management
As the sustainable energy transition resumes following a disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, the question of flexibility in power systems will become more pressing. Hydropower will be required to provide flexible, dispatchable electricity to power systems around the world, potentially doubling its installed capacity (including pumped storage). It is essential that hydropower assets are equipped with the latest technologies to capitalize on potential for multiplier effects. Hydropower’s flexibility and storage characteristics mean that much larger proportions of variable renewable energy can be connected to grids without recourse to fossil fuel-based backup systems. The enhanced flexibility technology can be installed through the modernization of existing plants and can be incorporated into future projects.