Editing Small hydro (section)

=== Asia ===
In mountainous regions, such as in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, small tributaries play an essential role in the water supply of villages, irrigating agriculture and supplying water to households. The diversion of these streams for small hydropower generation threatens water quality, irrigation supply, and local livelihoods.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Erlewein |first=Alexander |date=2013-11-01 |title=Disappearing rivers — The limits of environmental assessment for hydropower in India |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0195925513000760 |journal=Environmental Impact Assessment Review |volume=43 |pages=135–143 |doi=10.1016/j.eiar.2013.07.002 |bibcode=2013EIARv..43..135E |issn=0195-9255|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Local residents of Himachal Pradesh assert that benefits of local SHP projects have been exaggerated and have pushed for legal opposition to their development.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Diduck |first1=Alan P. |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003141228 |title=Advancing Environmental Justice for Marginalized Communities in India: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities |last2=Patel |first2=Kirit |last3=Malik |first3=Aruna Kumar |date=2021-07-21 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-003-14122-8 |edition=1 |location=London |language=en |doi=10.4324/9781003141228}}</ref>

In Matsuguma Village, Japan, a 30 kW small hydropower plant was completed in 2020 under a private-public partnership. The local government approached the community explaining their goal to supply power to the regional electric grid. Community members collaborated with a business model based "by the local community and for the local community." By selling the electricity produced, community members obtained [[energy democracy]], improved the infrastructure of the village and improved their welfare and quality of life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Small Hydropower Development Report 2022 |url=https://www.unido.org/WSHPDR2022 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=UNIDO |language=en}}</ref>