The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has announced the location for its 2011 World Congress - Iguassu Falls, Brazil. The Congress, a biennial event, follows the highly successful Congresses held in Antalya, Turkey (2007) and more recently in Reykjavik, Iceland (2009); which brought together more than 40 partner organizations and representatives of over 50 countries, including some of the world’s most influential political, technical, financial, social and environmental decision makers, and figureheads from business and industry.

Iguassu is the perfect location for a Congress looking at the issues surrounding the advancement of sustainable hydropower - the nearby Itaipu Hydropower Plant (HPP) will provide delegates with a first-hand example of how a well planned and balanced approach to hydropower development can take account of the unique energy and ecosystem demands that shape a region, thereby balancing hydropower needs with livelihood and conservation concerns.

The theme for the IHA 2011 World Congress will be “Advancing Sustainable Hydropower”, reflecting the Association’s mission. Presenting the Congress theme, Richard Taylor, IHA Executive Director said: “The worsening trends associated with climate change, coupled with the lack of a legally binding treaty arising from the COP15 Climate Change Conference, ensures that water, energy and climate issues remain high on the global agenda.” Taylor added: “As an advanced, renewable energy, Hydropower stands at the crossroads of these issues, providing proven solutions for water management and smarter power systems, as well as tackling climate change, which it is both affected by, and also serves to mitigate.”

The World Congress will tackle critical issues in relation to hydropower development, such as water and energy security, climate change and financing development, whilst impacts on the role of hydropower and other water and energy services will be discussed with a view to specifying action.

Delegates will also be informed about the current status and accomplishments of IHA’s sustainability work, including the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum (HSAF), a high-level, cross-sector forum of representatives, reviewing the IHA Sustainability Guidelines (2004) and Sustainability Assessment Protocol (2006). The HSAF aims to develop an enhanced sustainability assessment tool to measure and guide performance in the hydropower sector.

IHA will also present the GHG Measurement Guidelines for Freshwater Reservoirs, the development of which has been a multi-year project, engaging 100+ scientific institutions across the world, to arrive at a broadly supported consensus on how to address the greenhouse gas status of freshwater reservoirs. The Guidelines  are presented as the standard on how GHG emissions should be measured, to address the current knowledge gaps relating to freshwater reservoirs.

IHA’s Congresses are organized to be interactive and dynamic; they are not only intended to be informative, but designed to challenge current thinking and to stimulate future strategies. Here is what some of the delegates said about their experiences of the IHA 2009 World Congress:

• “The previous IHA World Congress was one of the best meetings, possibly the best, I have attended”;
• “This was a very well prepared and thorough conference. It was much better organized and executed that I expected. Bravo!”;
• “The opportunity for networking was excellent”;
• “I came as a guest from a non-hydro power related organisation, and I enjoyed the work spirit and discipline at the conference very much. Well organized, committed staff and interested participants. And additionally: wonderful side events! I would like to attend the next Congress as well - learning something beyond your own professional scope is always good. Thank you!”

Hydropower is a major source of low-carbon renewable energy. It contributes 16% of the world’s electricity, and represents 85% of all that is generated from renewable sources.