The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) and the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA) have announced the dual certification of the Ma’an Hydropower Station in Taichung City, Taiwan. The certification is the first completed project under a joint pilot programme between the two organisations.
The Ma’an Hydropower Station is a 133.5MW facility operated by Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) on the Dajia River. LIHI has awarded the project Low Impact Hydropower Certification (LIHI #207-I), while HSA has granted Certified Silver status under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS).
“We’re excited for this collaborative effort,” said LIHI Executive Director Shannon Ames. “The only reason we’ve been able to do what we do for over two decades is because of our partnerships. Even though each organisation has its own special skillset, we have a shared vision for the future of hydropower, and we’re going to get there faster and more prepared if we go together.”
The joint assessment was conducted between May and November 2025. It evaluated the project against criteria including river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed protection, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, recreation access, governance, environmental management, and stakeholder engagement.
Under LIHI’s certification framework, the assessment confirmed the implementation of year-round ecological flows to support aquatic habitat in the bypassed river reach and the use of sediment management measures to protect downstream water quality. Multiple fish passage routes were also verified to support different species and life stages.
The assessment identified safeguards for three protected fish species and documented engagement with the Atayal Indigenous community, including support for cultural activities. Certification was granted with conditions requiring continued consultation with regulators and technical experts to monitor river flow and fish passage performance.
“Collaborating with LIHI for the first time is an exciting step for us,” said Alain Kilajian, Deputy Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance. “We’ve known and respected one another’s work for years, and this pilot has been a great opportunity to show how sustainability certification schemes can complement each other and advance shared goals.
“Ma’an achieving Silver certification shows how the Hydropower Sustainability Standard can be used in a sensitive river basin context to identify gaps, prioritise actions and strengthen performance.”
According to HSA, the Silver certification reflects strong performance in governance, ISO 14001-certified environmental management systems, dam safety practices, labour standards, and community benefit programmes, including infrastructure improvements and local development funding.
The assessment also identified areas for improvement, including biodiversity impacts in the Dajia River valley, the effectiveness of fish conservation measures, and the need for a formal process to assess potential risks to Indigenous Atayal rights.
Taipower said: “Achieving dual certification from HSS and LIHI marks a significant milestone in Taipower’s development journey. From an international perspective, this accomplishment fully recognises the company’s efforts and contributions around the Ma’an Hydropower Project in both environmental protection and social responsibility.”
LIHI and HSA are now seeking a second pilot project in the US. Hydropower operators interested in participating in the dual certification programme can contact LIHI at info@lowimpacthydro.org or HSA at info@hs-alliance.org.
More information is available through the Ma’an Hydropower Station certification profiles published by LIHI and HSA.
