Statistics report
Key World Energy Statistics 2021
Hydropower
Hydropower is expected to remain the world’s largest source of renewable electricity generation and play a critical role in decarbonising the power system and improving system flexibility.
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Hydropower is a mature technology, yet it continues to evolve. Reservoir hydropower plants and pumped storage plants are particularly suited to providing system flexibility, while run-of-the river hydropower plants are themselves variable according to current or seasonal weather conditions.
Run-of-river hydropower plants harness energy for electricity production mainly from the available flow of the river. These plants may include short-term storage or "pondage", allowing for some hourly or daily flexibility but they usually have substantial seasonal and yearly variations.
Reservoir hydropower plants rely on stored water in a reservoir. This provides the flexibility to generate electricity on demand and reduces dependence on the variability of inflows. Very large reservoirs can retain months or even years of average inflows and can also provide flood protection and irrigation services.
Pumped storage plants use water that is pumped from a lower reservoir into an upper reservoir when electricity supply exceeds demand or can be generated at low cost. When demand exceeds instantaneous electricity generation and electricity has a high value, water is released to flow back from the upper reservoir through turbines to generate electricity. Pumped storage currently represents the overwhelming majority of on-grid electricity storage.
Run-of-river hydropower plants harness energy for electricity production mainly from the available flow of the river. These plants may include short-term storage or "pondage", allowing for some hourly or daily flexibility but they usually have substantial seasonal and yearly variations.
Reservoir hydropower plants rely on stored water in a reservoir. This provides the flexibility to generate electricity on demand and reduces dependence on the variability of inflows. Very large reservoirs can retain months or even years of average inflows and can also provide flood protection and irrigation services.
Pumped storage plants use water that is pumped from a lower reservoir into an upper reservoir when electricity supply exceeds demand or can be generated at low cost. When demand exceeds instantaneous electricity generation and electricity has a high value, water is released to flow back from the upper reservoir through turbines to generate electricity. Pumped storage currently represents the overwhelming majority of on-grid electricity storage.
Last updated Nov 24, 2020
Key findings
Hydropower net capacity additions by country/region, 2018-2025
OpenHydropower capacity additions rebound in 2020
Global annual net hydropower additions are expected to surpass 18 GW in 2020 and continue to increase in 2021 and 2022, owing to the commissioning of two flagship projects in China with a combined capacity of 26 GW. Excluding China, global hydropower additions are expected to be relatively stable over the next 5 years. Growth is led by Asia-Pacific driven by rising electricity demand, increasing electricity access and regional electricity trade. Additions are also expected from large hydropower projects in Colombia, Argentina, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Turkey. Tenders for small hydropower spur growth in Brazil while system flexibility needs drive pumped hydropower additions in Europe.
Hydropower generation in the Sustainable Development Scenario, 2000-2030
OpenHydropower is not fully on track with the Sustainable Development Scenario
Hydropower generation is estimated to have increased by over 2% in 2019 owing to continued recovery from drought in Latin America as well as strong capacity expansion and good water availability in China. However, capacity additions overall declined for the fifth consecutive year, putting this technology off track with the SDS, which requires continuous growth in newly built capacity to maintain an average generation increase of 3% per year through 2030.
Analysis
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Climate Impacts on Latin American Hydropower
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Events
20 Jul 2021 14:30—15:15
Hydropower Special Market Report Webinar
26 Mar 2021 14:00—15:30
Climate Change and Hydropower in Latin America
10 Nov 2020 10:30—11:30
Release of Renewables 2020
11 Jun 2020
Climate Impacts on African Hydropower
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Our work on Hydropower
Hydropwer is the largest source of renewable electricity in the world and it is particularly suited to providing system flexibility. The Hydropower TCP is a global platform for advancing hydropower technology, encouraging the sustainable use of water resources for the development and management of hydropower.
