Some Features of China’s Small Hydropower

Abstract

China developed small hydropower (SHP) with its own resources instead of importing advanced technology from other countries. SHP has been instrumental in rural electrification. In 1997, SHP accounted for 28.6% of whole exploitable hydro energy in China. The peculiarities of SHP of China are:

1. Decentralized approach for SHP development with county as basic unit,

2. Special policies and strategies adopted

- self construction, self management and self consumption

- rural hydropower development fund set up - levy of 2 cents of each kWh

- electricity generates electricity policy

3. Various Channels of investment are mobilized

To exploit China's experience in SHP the International Network on Small Hydropower (IN-SHP) was established in Hangzhou, China.

Hydro Nepal: Journal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue No. 4, January, 2009 Page 11-14