Smaller Hydro, Higher Risk

Small or large hydropower plant design, construction and operation are complex tasks. Thousands of details must be well conceived and executed, and carefully coordinated for a project to achieve safe and economical operation that can be judged a social, technical and environmental success. Any hydroelectric installation, as a rule, should be designed using several stages. At each stage, all project documentation should be reviewed by independent reviewers selected and nominated by official authorities. Reducing the amount of analyses, without justification, or worse yet, neglecting the design procedures puts the project at risk. A collaborative effort at reducing this risk is thus advocated.