Operational sustainability analysis of small hydro power projects using five dimensions Lal Sanjib Kumar1, Kumar Arun1 1Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India Online published on 3 May, 2023. Abstract In India, hydropower of capacity 25 MW or below is termed as small hydro, different studies show that small hydropower is ecofriendly, green, proven, cost-competitive, and sustainable energy technology, However, only the sustainability of SHP can ensure that these SHP has achieved the above-mentioned qualities effectively. International Hydropower Association (IHA) has developed the most commonly used method incorporating-social, environmental, and economic dimensions of hydropower. A five-dimensional study for operational sustainability has been carried out in the present study. A total of forty-three (43) indicators have been-used for conducting the operational sustainability of seven (7) commissioned SHP projects located in Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state of India. A operational sustainability index for each SHP project was developed using prioritized weightage for each-indicator within its dimensions. The operational sustainability index of all seven SHP projects is found in the range between 0.44 to 0.54. Four SHP projects are sustainable whereas three SHP projects not sustainable. The result shows that projects below 5 MW are not sustainable as per the present study due to a variety of reasons. The developers give more priority to the economic and technical issues, whereas-socio-cultural and environmental issues are the least priority. Top Keywords Operational Sustainability, Small Hydro Power, Weightage Factor, Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Sustainability Index. Top |