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www.iea.org

YDROPOWE
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Renewable Energy Essentials: Hydropower
Hydropower is currently the most common form of renewable energy and plays an important part in global power generation.Worldwide hydropower produced 3 288 TWh, just over 16% of global electricity production in 2008, and the overall technical potential for hydropower is estimated to be more than 16 400 TWh/yr. TheBLUE scenario of the IEA publication Energy Technology Perspectives 2010, which aims to achieve a 50% reduction in energy-related CO2 emissions by 2050, projects that hydro could produce up to 6 000 TWhin 2050. Hydropower’s storage capacity and fast response characteristics are especially valuable to meet sudden fluctuations in electricity demand and to match supply from less flexible electricitysources and variable renewable sources. The costs of power production from hydropower can vary widely depending on project details, but usually fall into a range of USD 50 to 100/MWh. Upgrading existinghydropower plant projects offers further options for cost-effective increases in generation capacity. The environmental and social effects of hydropower projects need to be carefully considered.Countries should follow an integrated approach in managing their water resources, planning hydropower development in co-operation with other water-using sectors, and take a full life-cycle approach to theassessment of the benefits and impacts of projects.

Market status

Hydropower worldwide produced 3 288  TWh, equivalent to 16.3% of global electricity production Hydropower (20  181  TWh) in2008. Hydropower production in OECD countries reached 1 381  TWh, accounting for production 12.9% of gross electricity production; hydropower in non-OECD countries produced 1 906 TWh, equal to 20.1% ofgross electricity production.
3 500 3 000 2 500 2 000 1 500 1 000 TWh/yr Others Sweden Japan Venezuela India Norway Russia United States Brazil Canada China 30% 18% China Canada Brazil United States...