Decentralized hydropower in AID"s development assistance program

This report discusses the rationale for AID"s interest in DH, the state-of-the-art technology, and the lessons learned from past experience on how such a technology can best be implemented. The report then describes the twofold strategy and implementation plan that AID"s Office of Energy (S&T/EY) will use to maximize its limited resources. First, S&T/EY will serve as a catalyst to DH development by conducting reconnaisance and prefeasibility analyses to identify potential sites for cost-effective applications and then "brokering" these sites by bringing together potential developers to assume responsibility for planning, financing, construction, and operation, with only minor additional assistance from AID Second, S&T/EY will include DH as a key energy option in AID projects to ensure that DH is evaluated wherever it can meet power needs and to identify those applications where it is the best option. S&T/EY will focus on Madagascar and one other promising country. (Author abstract, modified)