We're working on a project that is off-grid with energy generated via hydroelectricity, that supplies energy only to the building.
LEED reference guide states that low-impact hydroelectricity is eligible as renewable energy.
What does LEED understand as "low-impact"?
Would this hydropower station be considered as low-impact, since it only provides energy to the building?
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5906 thumbs up
July 7, 2021 - 9:37 am
I think low impact hydro is defined in the Green-e standard which references this organization - https://lowimpacthydro.org/
CT G
23 thumbs up
July 8, 2021 - 8:31 am
Marcus,
Thank you for your quick response.
After your response we understand that the hydropower station needs to be certified under Low Impact Hydropower Institute requirements if we want the energy to be considered as RECs, however we want to use the energy generated on-site (hydropower facility) to account for in the simulation and renewable energy credits.
Other consideration is that the organization states that Hydropower facilities located outside of the United States are not eligible for LIHI certification (https://lowimpacthydro.org/program-eligibility/).
Since our project is located outside the USA, is there any guidance on how to determine if the small hydro-power facility that will be specially built to supply energy only to our building can be considered low-impact hydropower and therefore be considered in the simulation and renewable energy credits?
Any comment will be appreciated.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5906 thumbs up
July 8, 2021 - 11:53 am
The question in not just one of RECs, it is about what qualifies as a renewable energy system for LEED. Green-e is often a source used to determine the renewables that qualify for LEED in general not just for RECs.
I am not aware of any similar hydro standard that has been granted equivalency outside the US but you should search the international ACPs to find out. Absent a standard granted equivalency outside the US, you should evaluate the hydro facility using the criteria of the US standard to demonstrate that your hyro facility meets the criteria of the US standard.