Tor Haakon Bakken
Background: Hydropower reservoirs are primarily built for the purpose of storing water for electricity production in periods of limited natural runoff. This infrastructure has also shown to provide valuable services beyond electricity production, by reducing floods and securing availability of water for other purposes during droughts. The value of these additional services are, however, to a limited extent acknowledged and quantified. The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has launched The Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide, technical guidance to help the hydropower industry become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The guide will support investors, owners and developers to make informed decisions about how to plan build, upgrade and operate hydropower systems in the face of increasingly variable climatic and hydrological conditions.
