Real‑world examples of hydropower project examples for companies

Why companies are turning to hydropower (with real examples)

Corporate renewable energy used to mean one thing: solar on the roof. Today, some of the best examples of hydropower project examples for companies show a different pattern: pairing variable renewables like wind and solar with the steady output of hydro to stabilize portfolios and meet 24/7 clean energy goals.

Hydropower still supplies about 6–7% of total U.S. electricity and nearly one‑third of global renewable generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (EIA, IEA). For companies, that translates into:

• Firm, low‑carbon power that can run data centers and factories 24/7.
• Long asset lifetimes (often 50–100 years) that match long‑term climate commitments.
• Multiple access routes: direct on‑site projects, off‑site power purchase agreements (PPAs), green tariffs with utilities, and renewable energy certificates (RECs).

The most instructive examples of examples of hydropower project examples for companies fall into three buckets: on‑site small hydro, off‑site contracts with existing dams, and portfolio strategies that mix hydropower with other renewables.

On‑site small hydro: examples of hydropower project examples for companies using their own water

On‑site projects are still relatively rare, but they’re some of the clearest examples of hydropower project examples for companies physically integrating power generation into their operations.

Brewery and food‑processing facilities tapping existing flows

One standout example of on‑site hydropower is mid‑sized food and beverage manufacturers that sit near rivers or canals. Several North American breweries and food processors have installed run‑of‑river micro‑hydro systems that generate a few hundred kilowatts up to a couple of megawatts. These projects typically:

• Use existing water infrastructure (intake channels, process water outfalls, or irrigation canals).
• Avoid building large dams, which reduces permitting complexity and environmental impact.
• Cover a significant share of plant electricity use, especially in regions with high rainfall.

While many of these deals are private, the pattern is consistent: companies with water‑intensive operations and river‑adjacent real estate are quietly commissioning small hydro as part of broader energy‑efficiency and decarbonization programs.

Industrial campuses and mill redevelopments

Another cluster of real examples includes companies that redevelop historic mill sites. In the U.S. Northeast and Pacific Northwest, old mill dams are being modernized and paired with new tenants: light manufacturing, logistics hubs, and even tech offices.

These projects often involve:

• Upgrading old turbines with modern, higher‑efficiency units.
• Signing internal power agreements where the campus owner sells hydro output to tenants at a fixed price.
• Using the project as a flagship sustainability asset in corporate ESG reporting.

For companies that own or lease such properties, this is one of the best examples of hydropower project examples for companies that turns a legacy industrial asset into a long‑term clean energy source.

Off‑site corporate hydropower PPAs: the most scalable examples for large companies

Most large enterprises don’t own dams, and they don’t need to. The most scalable examples of examples of hydropower project examples for companies rely on off‑site contracts with existing or upgraded hydropower plants.

Tech and data center buyers seeking 24/7 clean power

Data‑intensive businesses are under pressure to match consumption with clean generation every hour of the year, not just on an annual basis. Hydropower is central to that shift.

A typical example of this model:

• A cloud or AI company signs a long‑term PPA with a hydropower operator in a region where it runs data centers.
• The PPA might be virtual (financial) rather than physical, meaning the power flows into the grid while the company receives the environmental attributes and price hedge.
• The company then uses hourly matching tools to show that hydropower, combined with solar and wind, covers a high percentage of its hourly load.

These real examples of hydropower project examples for companies are especially common in the Pacific Northwest, Quebec, the Nordics, and parts of South America, where hydro is abundant and grids are already relatively low‑carbon.

Manufacturing and heavy industry hedging power prices

Hydropower’s long‑term cost stability makes it attractive to manufacturers exposed to volatile electricity prices. In several U.S. states and Canadian provinces, industrial buyers have:

• Signed 15–20‑year contracts with existing hydro facilities.
• Used these contracts as a hedge against natural gas price swings.
• Reported the resulting emissions reductions under frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

These arrangements are often confidential, but utility commission filings and corporate sustainability reports show a consistent pattern: hydropower PPAs are one of the best examples of hydropower project examples for companies that want both predictable costs and credible emissions cuts.

Utility green tariffs and retail programs: easier entry points for mid‑sized firms

Not every company has the scale or risk appetite to sign a standalone PPA. That’s where green tariffs and retail renewable products come in.

Green tariffs backed by hydropower

In several U.S. regions, utilities offer green tariffs that are explicitly backed by hydropower. Under these programs:

• Companies opt into a special rate structure.
• The utility procures or allocates hydropower and other renewables to match the enrolled load.
• The customer receives the environmental attributes (often in the form of bundled RECs) and can claim the associated emissions reductions.

For a mid‑sized office portfolio or logistics network, this is often the most practical example of how to participate in hydropower without negotiating a custom PPA. It’s also one of the more accessible examples of hydropower project examples for companies that don’t have large in‑house energy teams.

Retail renewable products and hydropower RECs

In deregulated power markets, retail suppliers increasingly offer products marketed as “100% renewable,” with a significant share of supply coming from existing hydropower. While this model has limits from an additionality perspective, it still plays a role in corporate strategies.

Some real examples include:

• Regional office portfolios using hydropower‑backed retail products as a bridge solution while they explore on‑site solar.
• Service‑sector companies (consulting firms, law firms, financial services) buying hydropower RECs to close the gap between their remaining grid emissions and net‑zero targets.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership provides guidance on using hydropower within green power purchases and RECs, including eligibility criteria and reporting considerations (EPA).

Upgrading existing dams: examples include efficiency gains and new capacity

One of the most overlooked examples of examples of hydropower project examples for companies involves modernizing existing dams rather than building new ones.

Corporate capital in hydro upgrades

Infrastructure funds and corporate investors increasingly co‑invest in hydropower upgrades. For example, a company might:

• Take a minority stake in a hydro portfolio through an infrastructure fund.
• Finance turbine upgrades that increase output without raising reservoir levels.
• Claim a share of the resulting renewable generation toward its climate targets, depending on accounting rules and verification.

These are sophisticated deals, but they’re among the best examples of hydropower project examples for companies that want to support new clean energy supply without the environmental controversies of new large dams.

Non‑powered dams and canal systems

The U.S. Department of Energy has highlighted the potential of non‑powered dams—structures that currently manage water but don’t generate electricity—as a growth area for low‑impact hydropower (DOE Water Power Technologies Office).

Some companies are partnering with developers that:

• Add small turbines to existing flood‑control or navigation dams.
• Install hydro units in irrigation or municipal water canals.
• Sell the new generation through corporate PPAs or green tariffs.

For sustainability teams, these projects are compelling real examples of hydropower project examples for companies that support grid decarbonization with minimal new land disturbance.

Sector‑specific examples of hydropower project examples for companies

Hydropower adoption looks very different in a data center than in a grocery chain. A few sector snapshots help make the strategy choices concrete.

Technology and digital services

Tech companies tend to:

• Use off‑site hydro PPAs to cover data center loads in hydro‑rich regions.
• Combine hydropower with solar and wind to pursue 24/7 carbon‑free energy goals.
• Publicly report hourly or regional matching progress in sustainability reports.

For them, the best examples of hydropower project examples for companies are about reliability and brand: demonstrating that AI and cloud workloads can run on low‑carbon baseload.

Manufacturing and materials

Manufacturers often focus on:

• On‑site or near‑site small hydro when located near rivers.
• Long‑term hydro contracts to stabilize energy costs at energy‑intensive plants.
• Using hydro as a backbone resource, with rooftop solar and efficiency layered on top.

These real examples of hydropower project examples for companies show up frequently in sectors like pulp and paper, metals, and food processing.

Retail, logistics, and services

For distributed portfolios—stores, warehouses, offices—the pattern is different:

• Hydropower typically enters through utility green tariffs or retail green power products.
• Companies may prioritize certified low‑impact hydro, using standards like the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) in North America (LIHI).
• Hydropower RECs often complement on‑site solar at flagship locations.

Here, the most realistic examples of examples of hydropower project examples for companies are portfolio‑level procurement decisions rather than single showpiece projects.

2024–2025 trends shaping corporate hydropower strategies

Several trends are redefining what “good” looks like in hydropower project examples for companies.

Shift toward 24/7 carbon‑free energy

Regulators, investors, and NGOs are pushing companies beyond annual matching. Hydropower’s steady output makes it a preferred tool for:

• Filling nighttime and winter gaps left by solar.
• Supporting hourly matching claims in regions with strong hydro resources.

Companies that can point to concrete examples of hydropower project examples for companies in their portfolios will be better positioned as 24/7 accounting standards mature.

Environmental and social scrutiny

Hydropower is not impact‑free. Concerns include fish passage, altered river ecosystems, and community displacement for large dams. In 2024–2025, the better examples of hydropower project examples for companies share some common features:

• Preference for upgrades to existing dams and non‑powered dams over new large reservoirs.
• Use of certification schemes (such as LIHI in the U.S.) to screen projects.
• Transparent reporting on project impacts and mitigation measures.

Companies that ignore these factors risk reputational backlash, even if their emissions accounting looks good on paper.

Policy and incentives

Recent U.S. federal policies, including provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, support hydropower upgrades, dam safety improvements, and fish passage projects. While incentives are often captured by project owners, corporate buyers benefit indirectly through:

• More bankable upgrade projects to contract with.
• Potentially lower PPA prices due to tax credits and grants.

Monitoring Department of Energy and state‑level programs can surface new examples of examples of hydropower project examples for companies that align financial, environmental, and policy benefits.

Practical tips for designing your own hydropower project example

If you’re trying to move from inspiration to action, use the real examples above as a checklist rather than a script.

Start with geography and load. Hydropower options are highly regional. Map where your biggest loads are and overlay them with hydro‑rich grids. That’s where the strongest examples of hydropower project examples for companies tend to emerge.

Decide your role. Are you:

• A direct project host (on‑site small hydro)?
• A long‑term buyer (off‑site PPA or green tariff)?
• An investor in upgrades or non‑powered dams?

Each role comes with different risk, branding, and accounting implications.

Align with reporting frameworks. Use guidance from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, EPA’s Green Power Partnership, and science‑based target initiatives to ensure your hydropower claims will stand up to scrutiny.

Screen for impact, not just megawatt‑hours. Favor projects that:

• Upgrade existing infrastructure.
• Incorporate modern fish passage and environmental safeguards.
• Are transparent about community engagement.

That’s how you create future‑proof examples of hydropower project examples for companies that support both climate and biodiversity goals.

FAQ: examples of hydropower use in corporate sustainability

Q1. What are some real examples of hydropower project examples for companies in 2024–2025?
Real‑world examples include on‑site run‑of‑river systems at food and beverage plants, upgraded mill dams supplying industrial campuses, tech companies signing virtual PPAs with large hydro plants in hydro‑rich regions, and retail chains buying hydropower‑backed green tariffs from utilities.

Q2. What is an example of a low‑impact hydropower option for a mid‑sized business?
A mid‑sized business that can’t host its own project might enroll in a utility green tariff that sources from certified low‑impact hydropower, or buy hydropower‑backed RECs verified by standards bodies like LIHI. This offers a simpler, lower‑risk example of corporate hydropower use.

Q3. Are hydropower projects always better than wind or solar for companies?
No. Hydropower works best as part of a portfolio. In many grids, new wind and solar are cheaper per megawatt‑hour. Hydropower’s advantage is steady output and the ability to support 24/7 clean energy claims. The strongest examples of hydropower project examples for companies combine hydro with wind, solar, and efficiency.

Q4. How do companies account for emissions reductions from hydropower?
Most companies follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. If they buy hydropower directly or through a PPA and receive the environmental attributes (RECs or equivalent), they can report lower Scope 2 emissions using the market‑based method. EPA’s Green Power Partnership provides additional guidance on eligible hydropower and reporting.

Q5. What should companies watch out for when evaluating examples of hydropower projects?
Key issues include environmental impacts on rivers and fish, community and Indigenous rights around large dams, the age and additionality of the project, and the credibility of any certification or REC product. Strong examples of examples of hydropower project examples for companies address these points transparently, not just the carbon math.