Hydropower Criteria

The Hydropower Criteria define the mitigation and adaptation requirements for hydropower facilities—including run-of-river, impoundment, and pumped storage—to qualify for Climate Bond certification. Mitigation eligibility is based on power density or GHG emissions intensity thresholds, which vary depending on whether the facility became operational before or after 2020. Pumped storage must additionally demonstrate a link to intermittent renewables or grid decarbonisation. Adaptation and resilience are assessed via the ESG Gap Analysis Tool, with strict limits on the number and nature of 'significant gaps' allowed. Issuers must provide evidence of these metrics and publicly disclose ESG assessments and any associated Environmental and Social Action Plans.

• Hydropower facilities are eligible for certification based on two mitigation thresholds: power density (the 'GHG Risk Predictive Screen') or GHG emissions intensity (the 'Low GHG Compatibility Test'). For facilities operational before 2020, the thresholds are a power density > 5W/m2 or GHG emissions intensity < 100g CO2e/kWh. For those commencing operation in 2020 or after, the thresholds increase to a power density > 10W/m2 or GHG emissions intensity < 50g CO2e/kWh.

APA

Climate Bonds Initiative (2021). Hydropower Criteria. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Hydropower-Criteria-doc-March-2021-release3.pdf

Chicago

Climate Bonds Initiative. Hydropower Criteria. 2021. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Hydropower-Criteria-doc-March-2021-release3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Bonds Initiative |title=Hydropower Criteria |date=25 March 2021 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Hydropower-Criteria-doc-March-2021-release3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatebondsinitiative2021hydropower, author = {{Climate Bonds Initiative}}, title = {{Hydropower Criteria}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/Hydropower-Criteria-doc-March-2021-release3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }