For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OUS/231
14 February 2014

Re-issued as received

First compilation of world's small hydropower data launched

VIENNA/HANGZHOU, 13 February (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - A new web-based knowledge sharing portal on small hydropower that features best practices from different regions of the world has been launched by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Centre on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP). It contains 20 regional overviews and 149 country-level reports.

"UNIDO and ICSHP are proud to facilitate this collective effort based on the contribution of more than 60 different authors and organizations from all over the world," said Diego Masera, head of UNIDO's Renewable and Rural Energy Unit.

"Small hydropower is one of the most suitable energy solutions for fostering inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Yet, much of the world's small hydropower potential remains untouched. So the first step to remedying the situation is through dissemination of reliable data to initiate new small hydropower project."

Liu Heng, the Director General of the ICSHP, added: "This knowledge sharing platform is a crucial policy and investment guide for renewable energy provision through small hydropower. Our goal when publishing it was to identify the world's small hydropower development status and its potential in different countries and regions by engaging with stakeholders to share information."

UNIDO and ICSHP are collaborating with national institutions to facilitate continuous monitoring and collection of small hydropower data and are actively reaching out to potential partners to provide up-to date information. The changes will be reflected regularly on the website.

The portal features UNIDO's World Small Hydropower Development Report 2013 ( WSHPDR 2013).  A Chinese language version of the website will be available soon.

The knowledge portal can be accessed at: http://www.smallhydroworld.org/

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For more information, please contact:

Diego Masera
Head, UNIDO Renewable and Rural Energy Unit
d.masera@unido.org
or
report@icshp.org