The United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the International Hydropower Association signed a deal Tuesday, September 9, to speed up small hydropower projects around the world, according to a UNIDO statement. The two groups will work together on sharing knowledge, pushing policy changes, mixing technologies, helping women get involved, and finding money for small hydropower projects.
Small hydropower plants help remote communities get electricity by using flowing water to make clean energy. These setups work well in places that bigger energy companies ignore. The technology helps with food security, water access, affordable power, building infrastructure, and fighting climate change – all things the UN wants to achieve by 2030.
The partnership will tackle several jobs at once. Both organizations plan workshops, research reports, and online tools to spread information about small hydropower. The groups also plan to connect small hydropower with battery storage and new tech like hydrogen production. They’re making sure women and poor communities benefit from these energy projects.
“Integrating small hydropower into renewable energy strategies is essential not only for energy security but also for climate resilience,” Schwager said. Rich kept it simple: “Almost every community has water, and every community needs energy.”
UNIDO has worked on small hydropower for 20 years, helping countries build these systems. The new partnership wants to attract more private investors and get these projects built faster worldwide.
