Safe and clean energy instead of electricity importsWith a constantly increasing demand for electricity, energy coverage is one of the main challenges to be faced by Madagascar. According to the Rural Electrification Agency, there are only four small hydropower plants in Madagascar. The Antsirab� project aims at tapping the hydro power potential of the country while reducing Madagascar's dependence on expensive imported energy sources. The 16.5 MW run-of-river hydropower plant located on the river Ampamehana, in the Antananarivo Province, generates up to 90 GWh green electricity per year. The estimated emission reduction over the project's total life amounts to 441,960 t CO2-equivalents.This project is one of the first verified climate protection projects in Madagascar and plays an important role as an example for the future development of the electricity production sector in Madagascar.How does hydropower help fight global warming?Since hydropower is created without burning fossil fuels, it is considered emission-free. The growth of renewable energy production is essential to limiting global warming and securing energy supplies for the future. The amount of emissions saved by a hydropower project is calculated using the baseline method: how much CO2 would be released by generating the same amount of energy using standard energy production methods for the region?