In 2023, global hydropower consumption amounted to 39.65 exajoules. This represented a slight decrease of roughly 0.7 percent in comparison to the previous year, which was the highest figure recorded since the year 2000.

In 2024, global hydropower consumption amounted to ***exajoules. This represented a slight increase of roughly *** exajules in comparison to the previous year and was also the highest figure recorded since the year 2000.

In 2023, China was the leading country in terms of hydroelectricity generation worldwide with approximately ******** terawatt hours generated from hydro sources. In comparison, Russia's hydropower facilities generated some ****** terawatt hours of energy that year. Hydropower capacity Brazil and Canada led the world in hydropower generation in 2023 after China, totaling ****** terawatt hours and ****** terawatt hours, respectively. In 2023, about 28 percent of the total hydropower energy consumption worldwide occurred in China. Over three-quarters of the country’s electric power supply relies on hydroelectric power. In 2022, China added ** gigawatts of hydropower capacity. Hydroelectricity in Brazil Much of Brazil’s hydropower potential arises from the northern Amazon River basin. However, the majority of the country’s population lives along the eastern coast as well as the southern parts of the River. The distance and separation of the majority of the country’s hydroelectric resources and its demand has caused some reliability issues. For example, the 2014 drought led to many blackouts in various regions across the nation. A Belo Monte dam along the Xingu River was completed in 2019 and will be the second-largest hydroelectric dam in Brazil. Currently, the Itaipu Dam, located between Brazil and Paraguay along the Paraná River, is the second-largest dam in the world and has a generating capacity of ****** megawatts. However, the construction of large new hydroelectric power plants can create environmental impacts that alter important ecosystems, such as altering the primary flow of water systems.

In 2023, Norway was the largest hydropower producing country in Europe, with some *** terawatt-hours generated. Norway is also the leading European country in terms of installed hydropower capacity. Sweden ranked second in terms of hydropower generation in the region, with ** terawatt-hours. The European leader in hydropower Norway produces around ** percent of its electricity from hydropower, whereas globally, hydropower accounts for some **** percent of the overall power generation. Famous for its fjords, high mountains and steep valleys, Norway’s topography is perfectly suited for hydroelectricity development. With its first hydropower plant dating as back as 1891 – located in the northern town of Hammerfest – the Nordic country is now home to more than ***** hydropower plants. Types of hydropower plants There are three main types of hydropower plants. The most common are impoundment plants, in which a dam stores water from a river creating a reservoir. The water is then released to spin a turbine coupled to a generator that – ultimately – produces electricity. Another type are diversion plants, which may not require the use of a dam. Instead, these facilities funnel a portion of the water flow through a canal, using the natural inclination of the riverbed to generate energy. Lastly, pumped storage hydropower facilities store the electricity produced by other sources by pumping water from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation.

The largest global consumers of hydropower include China, Brazil, and Canada. Hydropower consumption in these countries totaled *** exajoules, ****exajoules, and ****exajoules, respectively. Several provinces in Canada produce over ** percent of their energy through hydropower. Due to plentiful and vast water bodies, Canada’s hydroelectricity potential is still much higher than its current consumption of hydro energy. Many of Canada’s hydropower facilities were constructed prior to 1990 and thus major rehabilitation and modernization of its power plants are necessary. Global hydropower Hydropower consumption has generally increased over the last decades, reaching a peak of ** exajoules in 2020 before declining moderately to ***** exajoules in 2023. It is one of the leading renewable sources worldwide due to its flexibility and consistency. Hydropower has long been capable of meeting base load electricity requirements and can meet peak and unexpected demand. There are three main types of hydropower stations. Run of river stations generate electricity through energy derived from river flow, reservoirs generate power by releasing stored water, and pumped storage facilities pump stored water back up to a higher reservoir to be re-released.

Between 2000 and 2023, the net generation of conventional hydroelectric power in the United States exhibited significant variability. In 2023 the country generated approximately ****** terawatt hours (TWh) of hydroelectric power, a decrease from ****** TWh in 2022. Future projections The highest generation in this period was recorded in 2011, with ***** TWh, reflecting the dependence of hydroelectric power on natural water cycles, meteorological patterns, and political influences. Hydroelectric capacity in the U.S. peaked at ***** gigawatts (GW) in 2023. Although continuous growth in capacity is expected, projected hydro capacity additions remain modest, with only slight increases anticipated up to 2050. Nevertheless, this commitment to maintaining and expanding hydroelectric capacity reflects its ongoing importance in the national energy portfolio. Regional focus Hydropower consumption in the U.S. has fluctuated in recent years, reaching *** quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs) in 2023. In 2022, the sector saw significant job growth of over 1,000 new positions compared to the previous year, with the number of employees rising to *****. Washington and California led U.S. hydroelectric production, with Washington producing over ** TWh and California producing nearly ** TWh in 2023. These states' contributions underscore the strategic importance of regional resources.

In 2023, the global installed capacity of renewable power surpassed **** terawatts, approximately **** terawatts of which were derived from hydropower. Through the use of mechanical structures such as dams and watermills, energy through hydropower can be generated from falling or fast-moving water and is a reliable, flexible energy source. Hydropower consumption worldwide Hydropower has come into greater demand over the past two decades, with global consumption increasing significantly since the early 2000s. China consumes the most hydropower of any country by far, followed by Brazil and Canada, each at about a ***** the rate of China. Where is hydropower made? Many of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams are located in China, and to a lesser extent, Brazil, contributing to high hydropower generation in these countries. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China is considered the largest hydroelectric dam in the world based on generating capacity. It was completed in 2012 amidst controversy, which concerned the displacement of residents and environmental problems associated with the dam’s maintenance and construction.

In 2023, Norway had the highest installed capacity of hydropower in Europe, with more than **** gigawatts installed. Turkey followed in close second, with some **** gigawatts installed. Total installed hydropower capacity in Europe neared *** gigawatts that year.

In 2023, hydropower generation in China stood at **** petawatt hours. Hydroelectric power generation in China peaked in 2020, at nearly *** petawatt hours. This was an increase of roughly ***** terawatt hours compared to the previous year.

In 2022, renewable energy production worldwide amounted to nearly 8.4 petawatt hours. Global renewable energy production increased over the years. Between 2009 and 2022, figures rose by approximately five petawatt hours.

From 2010 to 2022, global hydroelectric energy production experienced substantial growth, reaching approximately **** petawatt hours in 2022. Hydropower is one of the most widely used and reliable sources of renewable energy, utilizing mechanical structures, such as dams and watermills, to harness energy from the moving water. By 2023, the installed capacity of renewable power worldwide had surpassed four terawatts, with about **** terawatts of this capacity derived from hydropower. Major players in the global hydropower sector China dominates the global hydropower sector, with an installed capacity of ****** gigawatts as of 2023. In 2022 alone, China added ** gigawatts to its hydropower capacity. Brazil and the United States follow with ***** gigawatts and ****** gigawatts of installed capacity, respectively in 2023. These countries are also among the largest consumers of hydropower, with China consuming ***** exajoules, Brazil **** exajoules, Canada **** exajoules, and the United States **** exajoules. Employment in the hydropower sector is similarly heavily concentrated in China, accounting for approximately **** percent of the global workforce in this industry. Economic outlook and challenges The global hydropower market is expected to continue growing, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of *** percent projected between 2022 and 2030. This growth trajectory would see the market value increase from *** billion U.S. dollars in 2021 to an estimated ***** billion U.S. dollars by 2030. Despite the many benefits of hydropower, there are notable drawbacks. The construction of hydropower plants can cause significant environmental disruption, including the displacement of communities and wildlife habitats, alteration of water flow, and impacts on local ecosystems. Additionally, the high initial costs of building hydropower plants and their dependence on geographical and climatic conditions presents further challenges.

Over the last decade, the average installation cost for hydropower across the globe presented an overall increasing tendency, despite some oscillation. In 2022, hydroelectricity systems had an average installation cost of ***** U.S. dollars per kilowatt installed. That same year, the global cumulative capacity of hydropower stood at around *** terawatts. Is the cost worth it? The costs associated with the installation of hydroelectric systems depend on a wide range of factors – including size, output and quality of the system, connection to the grid, materials and labor costs, amongst others. For instance, small hydropower systems tend to present higher costs per kilowatt installed when compared to conventional hydro. Meanwhile, in contrast to other energy sources, hydropower offers lower levelized electricity costs. This is due to reduced expenses in fuel, operation and maintenance when compared to other technologies. The market value of hydropower The rising demand for electricity has become a major driving force behind the growth of the hydropower market worldwide. As the requirement for electricity is estimated to continue rising, governments are actively investing in hydroelectricity projects globally. Accordingly, the global market value of hydropower is projected to undergo continual growth over the next decade, surpassing *** billion U.S. dollars by the year 2030.

The United States consumed around 818 trillion British thermal units worth of hydropower in 2023. Hydropower consumption decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year, wherein the value was around 869 quadrillion British thermal units.

In 2023, the hydropower generation capacity in Japan stood at around 50 thousand megawatts. Figures remained at around the same level in recent years. Since the conventional hydropower potential is considered to be almost fully developed, a further increase in capacity is hardly possible. Hydropower in Japan  In 2020, solar power overtook hydropower as the largest renewable energy source in electricity production in Japan. Both energy sources generated close to 80 terawatt hours that year.Most fully developed hydropower plants in Japan were conventional run-of-river plants. This type of hydropower station uses the natural flow of water to generate energy, without using a reservoir. Renewable energy in Japan  To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be less dependent on fossil fuel imports, the Japanese government currently aims to increase the use of low-carbon energy sources such as renewables and nuclear energy. In recent years the share of renewables in electricity production increased to close to 20 percent.The country currently makes investments in solar power a priority. Japan was one of the first countries to use floating solar panels. These new trends increased the attention in solar energy of both domestic and foreign investors and will likely lead to the expansion of the sector in the future.

In 2023, Brazil had ***** gigawatts of installed hydropower capacity. China retained its place as the world leader in total hydropower installed capacity. Hydropower in China Hydropower is one of the most commonly used renewable energy sources. China accounted for a large portion of the world’s total hydropower capacity, totaling ****** gigawatts as of 2023. In comparison, the United States accounted for ****** gigawatts and Canada accounted for about ** gigawatts. In 2022, China generated **** petawatt hours of hydropower. China’s state-owned enterprises operate almost all of the hydropower facilities in the country. Hydropower is one of the most cost-efficient renewable energy sources, however, there are several challenges such as long development periods, social displacement, and environmental impacts. As feasible locations become scarcer, investment into the hydroelectric industry may also decline. Advantages of small hydropower plants Small hydropower has some advantages over large-scale hydro plants, most noticeably its relatively lower environmental impact. It is a low impact option mostly as small hydro plants do not interfere significantly with river flows. However, a study conducted in Norway in 2011 indicated that many small hydro facilities may produce a larger impact than a few larger hydropower projects.

The global hydropower industry is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5 percent between 2024 and 2029. This would see it reach some 334.82 billion U.S. dollars by 2029, up from 242.83 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Cumulative hydropower capacity reached approximately ***** gigawatts in 2023. This was an increase compared to the previous year value which was around ***** gigawatts. Hydropower is one of the most commonly used renewable energy sources. China is by far the largest contributor to hydropower capacity worldwide. As of 2023, China's hydropower and pumped storage plants had a capacity of *** gigawatts.

As of 2023, the total hydropower energy capacity in South Africa amounted to ***** megawatts. Between 2013 and 2023, the capacity of hydropower energy grew by roughly **** percent, increasing sharply in 2016 to ***** megawatts from ***** megawatts in the year prior.

As of 2021, the world's largest hydroelectric dam based on generation capacity was the Three Gorges dam built on Yangtze River in China. The dam was equipped with 34 turbo generators and the power plant had a power generation capacity of 22.5 gigawatts.

 Hydropower in China

China is by far one of the strongest supporters of hydroelectric energy in the world. It is one of the cheapest energy facilities to maintain due to low operation costs. In 2019, China generated 1.3 petawatt hours of electricity from hydropower. In 2020, China accounted for 30.8 percent of global hydropower consumption. Four of the world’s top ten largest hydroelectric dams are located in China; two more major hydroelectric projects are currently under construction in the country.

Hydropower in the United States In the United States, the average expense for operating a hydroelectric power plant was about 12.71 mills per kilowatt hour in 2020. As of that year, the United States was the fourth largest consumer of hydropower.

The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of hydropower worldwide has remained relatively stable throughout the past decade, amounting to **** U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour in 2022. Hydropower had an average cost of around *** cents per kilowatt-hour that year.