Mapping the Global Research Landscape on Impacts of Hydropower Projects: A Decadal Bibliometric Perspective

This bibliometric study focuses on analysing 636 Web of Science articles on the impacts of hydropower published between 2016 and 2025. We employed Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to map trends in publications, authorship, journal outlets, thematic clusters and collaborative networks. Annual outputs were maximal in 2021 and have stabilized thereafter, reflecting maturing of the field. Li KF and Peres CA were the most prolific authors and Science of the Total Environment and Journal of Hydrology the most influential journals. Thematically, ten disconnected areas were identified, with climate change emerging as the main “motor theme” alongside biodiversity and sustainability. Four intellectual strands emerged through the co-citation analysis: energy policy and governance, biodiversity conservation, hydrological modeling and ecological flow science. Predominantly international collaborations involving the United States, Brazil, and China among other regions of interest like Southeast Asia. Some key gaps are under-researched transboundary dynamics, and insufficient integration of water—energy—food nexus frameworks. According to the findings, more systematic integration of ecological and social dimensions of hydropower strategies is necessary in order to develop climate-resilient, adaptive hydropower strategies. This review analyses hydropower impact research trends and provides evidence-driven insights to inform future research and sustainable development.