Micro hydropower research and practice over the last decade for advancing decentralized energy access

This review offers a dual-staged evaluation of micro-hydropower (MHP), integrating a technical synthesis of over 150 of the most relevant papers with a bibliometric analysis of 918 peer-reviewed studies from 2014 to 2024. It provides a map of publishing trends, keyword development, and leading universities that describe global research patterns and identify research gaps in the field. Key advancements in turbine design, including impulse, reaction, low-head, and pump-as-turbine configurations, as well as the use of GIS-driven site-selection methodologies, have been synthesised. Thirteen real-world MHP initiatives are analyzed to contextualize the outcomes by examining the influence of design choices, financing strategies, and community engagement on results. Africa possesses around 25 GW of hydro energy potential, although it exhibits notably poor research output according to the findings. Context-sensitive engineering, robust governance, and adaptable implementation strategies also facilitate long-term success, extending beyond the mere adoption of technology. Overall, this study offers pragmatic recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and legislators aiming to expand MHP for sustainable rural electricity by integrating macro-level bibliometrics with micro-level design insights.