What is low impact hydropower?
Low-impact (small) hydropower is created when the flow of water spins a turbine in a setting that has reduced environmental impacts. Eligible facilities meet criteria such as minimum impact on river flows, water quality, fish passage, and watershed protection. In the absence of information on these environmental criteria, a minimum generating capacity (30MW) determines eligibility. Eligible hydropower facilities often operate in a “run of the river” mode, in which little or no water is stored behind a dam.
