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IHA Blue Planet Prize
The IHA Blue Planet Prize is awarded to hydropower projects that demonstrate excellence in sustainable development.
The prize is awarded on the basis of an assessment using the , its achievement of good practice across all topics and whether it has undergone a public consultation.
The prize was last awarded at the in Bali, Indonesia.
The 2025 IHA Blue Planet Prize
The 2025 IHA Blue Planet Prize winners will be announced on 9 September at the. For the first time, additional awards may be made in the categories of Pumped Storage and Small Hydropower, alongside the main prize.
To qualify for the 2025 IHA Blue Planet Prize, projects need to have been assessed or certified under the between 1 July 2023 and 13 June 2025, and met good practice across all topics.
The following projects have qualified:
Gold Certification
- - Iceland
- - Brazil
- - Nepal
- - Brazil
- - Zambia
- - Tajikistan
Silver Certification
- - Philippines
- - New Zealand
- - Colombia
- - Colombia
Certified
- - Nepal
- - Nepal
Certification TBC
- Electropalmor - Colombia
- - Malaysia
- - Scotland
The IHA Board decides who receives the IHA Blue Planet Prize and any sub-categories. For the main award in 2025, the IHA members will have a role in selecting the finalists by voting for their favourite projects.
Find out more about the qualified projects
2023 Prize Winner
The 2023 IHA Blue Planet Prize was awarded to Hydro-Québecý Eastmain-1 Development, with particular merit for their work engaging indigenous groups. The facility was the first to receive the Gold-level certification under the Hydropower ý Standard.
IHA President, Malcolm Turnbull commented on Eastmainý win: “We are delighted to award the 2023 IHA Blue Planet Prize to Hydro-Québecý Eastmain-1 Development. The project has demonstrated a real commitment to transparency and good practice. We welcome Hydro-Québecý passion for sustainable development and encourage all our members to pursue certification under the Hydropower ý Standard.”
Previous recipients
The IHA Blue Planet Prize was awarded to 10 projects between 2001 and 2023 in recognition of good sustainability practice:
- Reventazón hydropower plant, Costa Rica (2019)
- (2017)
- Andhikhola hydel and rural electrification scheme, Nepal (2005)
- Arrow Lakes power plant, Canada (2005)
- Sechelt Creek power plant, Canada (2005)
- Salto Caxias project, Brazil (2003)
- Palmiet pumped storage scheme, South Africa (2003)
- King River hydropower development, Tasmania, Australia (2001)
