Provides long life span (50 to 100 years and more)

Meets load flexibly (i.e hydro with reservoir)

Provides reliable service

Includes proven technology

Can instigate and foster regional development

Provides highest energy efficiency rate (payback ratio and conversion process)

Can generate revenues to sustain other water uses

Creates employment opportunities

Saves fuel

Can provide energy independence by exploiting national resources

Optimizes power supply of other generating options (thermal and intermittent renewables)

Precipitation dependent

In some cases, the storage capacity of reservoirs may decrease due to sedimentation

Requires long-term planning

Requires long-term agreements

Requires multidisciplinary involvement

Often requires foreign contractors and funding

Often provides flood protection

May enhance navigation conditions

Often enhances recreational facilities

Enhances accessibility of the territory and its resources (access roads and ramps, bridges)

Provides opportunities for construction and operation with a high percentage of local manpower

Improves living conditions

Sustains livelihoods (freshwater, food supply)

May restrict navigation

Local land use patterns will be modified

Waterborne disease vectors may occur

Requires management of competing water uses

Effects on impacted peoples’ livelihoods need to be addressed, with particular attention to vulnerable social groups

Effects on cultural heritage may need to be addressed

Neither consumes nor pollutes the water it uses for electricity generation purposes

Produces no waste

Avoids depleting non-renewable fuel resources (i.e., coal, gas, oil)

Very few greenhouse gas emissions relative to other large-scale energy options

Can create new freshwater ecosystems with increased productivity

Enhances knowledge and improves management of valued species due to study results

Can result in increased attention to existing environmental issues in the affected area.

Modification of hydrological regimes

Modification of aquatic habitats

Water quality needs to be monitored/managed

Greenhouse gas emissions can arise under certain conditions in tropical reservoirs

Temporary introduction of methylmercury into the food chain needs to be monitored/managed

Species activities and populations need to be monitored/managed

Barriers for fish migration, fish entrainment

Sediment composition and transport may need to be monitored/managed

Introduction of pest species needs to be monitored/managed