Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world''s electricity, almost 4,500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources
During 2020, hydropower projects totalling 21 GW in capacity were put into operation, up on 2019''s 15.6 GW. Nearly two-thirds of this growth came from China, which saw 13.8 GW of new capacity. Among other countries that added new capacity in 2020, only Turkey (2.5 GW) added more than 1 GW. Pumped storage hydropower totalled 1.5 GW of the new
Top 10 Countries by Prospective Hydropower Capacity (MW) Growth (Prospective/Operating) April 2024.
• China remains the world leader in respect of total hydropower installed capacity with over 370 GW. Brazil (109 GW), the USA (102 GW), Canada (82 GW) and India (50 GW) make up the rest of the top five.
2024 World Hydropower Outlook. The World Hydropower Outlook, a flagship annual publication by IHA, tracks and directs the progress of hydropower development globally against net zero pathways. Drawing upon exclusive new development insights from IHA''s global database, it features in-depth analysis of hydropower''s growth
Explore our regional and country profiles charting hydropower developments around the globe. Keep up to date with the latest developments in hydropower by reading our World Hydropower Outlook.
China is the world''s biggest hydro power producer, having generated an estimated 1,303 terawatt hours of hydropower in 2022, according to data published by Ember, a UK-based energy think tank.
Global net hydropower capacity additions by leading countries, 2021-2030 - Chart and data by the International Energy Agency.
Hydropower is one of the crucial technologies for fulfilling a commitment to reach 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity in 2030. Europe commissioned almost 2 GW of pumped storage hydropower capacity in 2022, the largest amount since at least 1990.
Canada and Brazil led the world in hydropower generation in 2022 after China, totaling 392.51 terawatt hours and 428.06 terawatt hours, respectively. In 2022, about 30 percent of the total