International Hydropower Association
The International Hydropower Association is a UK-based non-profit membership association advancing sustainable hydropower worldwide since 1995. It serves 100+ member organisations across 120+ countries through certification standards, sustainability assessment frameworks, training, and policy advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What International Hydropower Association does
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is a UK-registered non-profit membership association founded on 16 November 1995 at a UNESCO assembly, headquartered in London at One Canada Square. IHA exists to advance sustainable hydropower globally and operates through two not-for-profit entities (International Hydropower Association Ltd and IHA Sustainability Ltd), serving a membership of 100+ organisations across more than 120 countries whose combined hydropower generation represents 4,408 TWh — approximately one quarter of all renewable energy worldwide. Its membership spans hydropower developers, operators and manufacturers (including ENGIE Brasil, Hydro Tasmania, China Three Gorges, Hydro-Québec and EPM), governments and policymakers, financial institutions, and NGOs/civil society.
IHA's core offerings are standards, assessment frameworks, and knowledge products rather than commercial software. The portfolio includes the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (a globally recognised ESG certification for projects, launched 2021), the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (a multi-stakeholder framework launched 2006 and updated 2018), the G-res Tool for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from freshwater reservoirs (launched 2017 with research partners UQÀM, SINTEF and LUKE), the ESG Gap Analysis Tool, the Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy, the Climate Resilience Guide, and the annual World Hydropower Outlook publication. Events include the biennial World Hydropower Congress (since 2007) and Global Hydropower Day (since 2022). The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council, comprising NGOs, banks, governments and industry, governs the core protocols and Standard.
IHA's business model is membership-fee based, supplemented by event registration and sponsorship revenue from the World Hydropower Congress and capacity-building/training programmes. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. It is governed by a Board including President Malcolm Turnbull (former Prime Minister of Australia) and led by CEO Eddie Rich (appointed 2019). The organisation has been expanding its remit, most visibly in 2025 with the launch of the Global Alliance for Pumped Storage (GAPS) and the Paris International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower, and in 2023 with the spin-off of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance.
International Hydropower Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Hydropower Association
- Legal name
- International Hydropower Association Limited
- Website
- https://hydropower.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The International Hydropower Association is a UK-based non-profit membership association advancing sustainable hydropower worldwide since 1995. It serves 100+ member organisations across 120+ countries through certification standards, sustainability assessment frameworks, training, and policy advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Hydropower Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Renewable Energy Association Services
- NAICS
- Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111)
- SIC
- Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydropower Asset Management & Performance Optimization (EUACAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Spares, Performance) (EUAMADAE), Hydropower Plant Development & Permitting (Greenfield/Brownfield) (EUACAEAE)
Keywords
Where International Hydropower Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
International Hydropower Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
International Hydropower Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
International Hydropower Association is a non-profit membership association that develops and maintains sustainability frameworks, certification schemes, and assessment tools for the global hydropower sector. Its principal offerings include the Hydropower Sustainability Standard certification programme, the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol framework, the G-res Tool for greenhouse gas emissions estimation from freshwater reservoirs, the ESG Gap Analysis Tool, and the Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy. IHA also publishes the annual World Hydropower Outlook and convenes the biennial World Hydropower Congress to advance sustainable hydropower globally.
Product overview
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is a non-profit membership organization offering a portfolio of sustainability-focused products and services for the global hydropower sector. The core offerings include the World Hydropower Outlook annual publication, the Hydropower Sustainability Standard certification program, and the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol framework. Supporting tools include the G-res Tool for greenhouse gas emissions estimation, the ESG Gap Analysis Tool, and the Hydropower Pumped Storage Tracking Tool. The organization provides education through the Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy and offers the Blue Planet Prize award program. Key publications include the Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide and pumped storage policy frameworks. Events include the biennial World Hydropower Congress and annual Global Hydropower Day. The portfolio operates within the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance governance structure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hydropower Sustainability Standard Global certification scheme that certifies hydropower projects meeting international good practice in environmental, social, and governance performance across the project lifecycle. For hydropower developers, operators, governments, investors, and communities seeking credible sustainability certification.
- Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol Framework to measure hydropower project performance against environmental, social, and governance criteria, governed by the multi-stakeholder Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council. For project developers, operators, and lenders.
- G-res Tool Online tool to help hydropower developers, operators, and decision-makers estimate net greenhouse gas emissions from freshwater reservoirs. Methodology developed with UQAM, SINTEF, and LUKE drawing on data from over 200 sites.
- ESG Gap Analysis Tool Tool helping hydropower developers align with good practice Environmental, Social, and Governance standards for hydropower development.
- Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy Online training academy offering courses based on IHA's sustainability tools, governed by a multi-stakeholder council including social and environmental NGOs, private sector companies, and government. Participants can become certified sustainability practitioners.
- World Hydropower Outlook Annual flagship publication providing sector insights, global development statistics, and a roadmap for hydropower and renewables to deliver against net zero targets.
- Blue Planet Prize Prestigious industry award programme recognising hydropower projects exemplifying sustainable development, with Gold certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard as the highest recognition.
- World Hydropower Congress Biennial flagship congress bringing together global leaders to exchange knowledge and shape the future of sustainable hydropower. Provides networking, agenda-setting, and showcases for the sector.
- Hydropower Pumped Storage Tracking Tool Data and analytics tool providing locations and vital statistics for existing and planned pumped storage hydropower projects worldwide.
- Pumped Storage Hydropower Toolkit Policy frameworks and guidance for pumped storage hydropower development, including the Paris Pledge and the Global Alliance for Pumped Storage (GAPS) intergovernmental leadership group.
- Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide Guidance document to help developers and investors prepare for extreme weather and shifting hydrological patterns in hydropower project development and operations.
- Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines Guidelines on Good International Industry Practice defining expected standards for sustainable hydropower development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hydropower currently provides over 14% of the world's electricity
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use International Hydropower Association
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
International Hydropower Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
International Hydropower Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Global Renewables AlliancecoreIHA co-founded the REN Alliance in 2004, which evolved into the Global Renewables Alliance in 2023, securing hydropower's place in the broader renewables movement alongside wind and solar sectors
- Hydropower Sustainability Assessment CouncilcoreMulti-stakeholder forum including NGOs, banks, governments and industry formed to build consensus on defining sustainable hydropower. Governs the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and Standard.
- UNESCOflagshipIHA was officially founded at a UNESCO assembly on 16 November 1995. Also collaborated with UNESCO Chair for Global Environmental Change on the G-res Tool methodology.
- UNEP (Dams and Development Project)coreFollowing the 2000 World Commission on Dams report, IHA engaged with the UNEP-led Dams and Development Project to shape better practices for sustainable hydropower development.
- Research Partners (UQÀM, SINTEF, LUKE)coreCollaborated with University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), SINTEF and LUKE to develop the robust scientific methodology for the G-res Tool for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
International Hydropower Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- World Nuclear Association: International trade association for the global nuclear industry. Direct structural analogue to IHA — non-profit membership body, sector-specific focus on a low-carbon energy source, similar flagship publications and convening events.
- SolarPower Europe: European solar industry association and membership organisation. Closely parallels IHA's structure: membership dues, flagship outlook publications, sector awards, policy advocacy, and standards development for a renewables sub-sector.
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Intergovernmental organisation mandated to drive the global energy transition across all renewables. Directly comparable to IHA in mission (advancing sustainable renewables globally), international governance footprint, publication output, and convening role at COP and policy forums.
- International Geothermal Association (IGA): Non-profit membership association serving the geothermal sector. Closest like-for-like peer to IHA in structure and niche-renewables focus, with similar membership, conferences and policy-advocacy programmes — but at a smaller scale.
- World Bioenergy Association: International non-profit promoting bioenergy and a fellow REN Alliance member alongside IHA. Closely comparable non-profit membership structure and niche-renewables advocacy model — but serving a different sub-sector.
- REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century): Multi-stakeholder renewable energy policy network anchored at UN Environment. Comparable to IHA in its policy convening role, multi-stakeholder governance (governments, NGOs, industry), and flagship Global Renewables Outlook report.
- Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC): International trade association representing the wind energy sector. Operates the same non-profit membership association model as IHA for a sister renewables industry, including flagship reports, global events, and policy advocacy — IHA's wind-sector analogue.
Emerging players
- Carbon Trust: Not-for-profit sustainability advisory and certification organisation. Comparable to IHA where it issues certifications and standards (e.g., carbon footprint, green finance), but operates more as a commercial advisory than a sector-membership association.
Broad incumbents
- World Energy Council: Long-established global energy network covering all energy sources and technologies. Overlaps with IHA at the policy and member-engagement level but operates much more broadly (oil, gas, nuclear, all renewables), making it the broader-incumbent peer.
- International Energy Agency (IEA): Intergovernmental energy organisation producing flagship energy data, outlooks and policy recommendations. Overlaps with IHA on policy and global energy outlooks; much larger incumbent footprint and broader mandate but shares convening authority.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
International Hydropower Association social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Hydropower Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
International Hydropower Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Hydropower Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
International Hydropower Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
International Hydropower Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Hydropower Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Hydropower Association
What does International Hydropower Association do?
International Hydropower Association is a non-profit membership association that develops and maintains sustainability frameworks, certification schemes, and assessment tools for the global hydropower sector. Its principal offerings include the Hydropower Sustainability Standard certification programme, the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol framework, the G-res Tool for greenhouse gas emissions estimation from freshwater reservoirs, the ESG Gap Analysis Tool, and the Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy. IHA also publishes the annual World Hydropower Outlook and convenes the biennial World Hydropower Congress to advance sustainable hydropower globally.
Is International Hydropower Association a public or private company?
International Hydropower Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was International Hydropower Association founded?
International Hydropower Association was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is International Hydropower Association based?
International Hydropower Association is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are International Hydropower Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are World Nuclear Association, SolarPower Europe, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Geothermal Association (IGA), World Bioenergy Association, REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) and Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Carbon Trust is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are World Energy Council and International Energy Agency (IEA).
Does International Hydropower Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Hydropower Association.
What industry is International Hydropower Association in?
International Hydropower Association's product category is Renewable Energy Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACAEAK, Hydropower Asset Management & Performance Optimization, with a secondary code of EUAMADAE, Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Spares, Performance). Its NAICS code is 221111 and its SIC code is 4900.