Wiktor Wise
Hydropower is a significant source of electricity worldwide, with more than 150 countries producing some hydroelectricity. In 2020, hydropower accounted for 16.8% of global electricity generation, making it the largest renewable energy source. Hydropower is a flexible and low-cost source of electricity with a long lifetime, and it offers some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy generated. The use of hydropower has helped to avoid over 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the past 50 years. While hydropower generation is expected to increase globally, its share in total power generation is projected to decline as electricity demand grows faster than deployment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in the US in 2022 | 6.2% |
| Percentage of renewable electricity in the US from hydropower in 2022 | 28.7% |
| Average percentage of electricity from hydropower in the US between 2001 and 2022 | 6.7% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in the US in 2020 | 7.3% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in the US in 2011 | 7.9% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in the US in 2001 | 7% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in the US in 1950 | Not available |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in Washington State | 70% |
| Number of US states where more than 10% of electricity comes from hydropower | 11 |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower globally in 2022 | 14.3% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower globally in 2020 | 17% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower globally in 2019 | 16.8% |
| Percentage of renewable electricity from hydropower globally | 50% |
| Percentage of low-carbon electricity from hydropower globally | 50% |
| Percentage of electricity from hydropower in emerging and developing economies | 50% |
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What You'll Learn
Hydropower's share of electricity generation
Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy for producing mechanical and electrical energy. In 2022, hydropower accounted for about 6.2% of total US utility-scale electricity generation and 28.7% when looking solely at renewable electricity generation. Hydropower's share of total US electricity generation has generally decreased since the 1950s, mainly due to the rise of electricity generation from other sources. However, hydropower remains a significant source of renewable energy in the US, with some states, such as Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, relying on hydropower for over 10% of their electricity.
On a global scale, hydropower is an even more important source of electricity generation. In 2020, hydropower supplied 17% of the world's electricity, making it the third-largest source after coal and natural gas. In 2022, hydropower's share of global electricity generation was slightly lower, at 14.3%. Hydropower is particularly important in emerging and developing economies, where it meets the majority of electricity demand in 28 countries with a total population of 800 million.
The use of hydropower has several benefits. Firstly, it is a renewable and reliable source of energy that provides very low-cost electricity over its long lifetime. Secondly, hydropower plants can quickly ramp up and down electricity generation, making them ideal for meeting sudden changes in demand and integrating with other renewable sources like solar and wind power. Thirdly, hydropower has low greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy generated and offers multiple environmental benefits compared to fossil fuels.
However, there are also some challenges and limitations to hydropower. Firstly, the availability of hydropower depends on the volume of water flow, which can be affected by seasonal variations and long-term changes in precipitation patterns, such as droughts. Secondly, while pumped storage hydropower plants can store energy for later use, they are not considered renewable since they use more electricity than they generate. Finally, in advanced economies, the share of hydropower in electricity generation has been declining due to ageing plants that require modernisation.
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The future of hydropower
Hydropower is currently the world's largest source of renewable electricity, accounting for more than 50% of renewable electricity production globally. It is also one of the oldest sources of energy for producing mechanical and electrical energy. In 2022, hydropower generated about 14.3% of the world's total electricity and 28.7% of total utility-scale renewable electricity in the US.
Hydropower is a reliable, versatile, and low-cost source of clean electricity generation and responsible water management. It offers some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy generated and provides multiple environmental benefits. Hydropower plants also provide essential backup power during major electricity disruptions.
However, the future of hydropower is uncertain due to increasing erratic rainfall caused by climate change, which is disrupting hydro production globally. To sustain hydropower's growth, the industry will need to address the wave of retirements in its workforce and attract a new, diverse workforce to sustain operations and grow.
To achieve net-zero emissions, the World Hydropower Outlook report estimates that the hydropower industry will need to increase its growth rate from 20 GW/year to about 50 GW/year, and this rate will need to be sustained until 2050. This will require a cumulative investment of approximately US$3.7 trillion, or about US$130 billion annually.
Despite the challenges, hydropower is expected to remain the world's largest source of renewable electricity generation into the 2030s. It will continue to play a critical role in decarbonizing the power system and improving system flexibility. Pumped storage hydropower, in particular, could play a major role in balancing out variations in solar and wind generation.
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How hydropower works
Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of energy for producing mechanical and electrical energy. It was used by farmers as far back as ancient Greece for mechanical tasks like grinding grain. Hydropower facilities can be tiny, taking advantage of water flows in municipal water facilities or irrigation ditches. They can even be “dam-less,” with diversions or run-of-river facilities channeling part of a stream through a powerhouse before the water rejoins the main river.
Hydropower is a renewable energy source that harnesses the power of moving water to produce electricity. The amount of precipitation that drains into rivers and streams in a geographic area determines the amount of water available for producing hydropower. Seasonal variations in precipitation and long-term changes in precipitation patterns, such as droughts, can have significant effects on the availability of hydropower production.
Hydropower plants are usually located on or near a water source. The volume of the water flow and the change in elevation, or "head," from one point to another determine the amount of available energy in the moving water. In general, the greater the water flow and the higher the head, the more electricity a hydropower plant can produce.
At hydropower plants, water flows through a pipe or penstock, then pushes against and turns blades in a turbine that spins to power a generator to produce electricity. The water continues its journey out to sea, where the cycle is repeated and the water can be used again and again to make electricity.
Pumped-storage hydropower facilities are a type of hydroelectric storage system where water is pumped from a water source up to a storage reservoir at a higher elevation. The water is released from the upper reservoir to power hydro turbines located below the upper reservoir. They usually pump water to storage when electricity demand and generation costs are low, and release the stored water to generate electricity during peak electricity demand periods when wholesale electricity prices are relatively high.
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The environmental impact of hydropower
Hydropower is a renewable and clean source of energy that has been used for electricity generation for centuries. It is one of the oldest power sources in the world, with a long history of reliable power generation. However, despite its many benefits, hydropower projects can have significant environmental impacts that must be carefully managed.
The construction of large dams, for example, requires large amounts of concrete, a carbon-intensive material. The production of cement for projects like the Hoover Dam releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases. In addition, quarrying sand and gravel can cause habitat destruction. Reservoirs created by dams can also be sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, due to decaying organic matter in stagnant water.
The construction and operation of dams and reservoirs also disrupt local ecosystems. This can lead to water depletion downstream, water quality deterioration, loss of longitudinal connectivity, and habitat degradation. These impacts can be mitigated to some extent through reestablishing fish migration routes, controlling water release to mimic natural flow patterns, and regularly flushing reservoirs to reduce methane buildup.
Furthermore, as hydropower relies on the natural flow of water, shifts in precipitation patterns and droughts can reduce water flows to hydropower facilities, affecting their electricity generation capacity. This has been observed in the US Southwest, where a 22-year megadrought has lowered water levels in lakes that feed hydropower plants.
Despite these challenges, hydropower plays a crucial role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their associated emissions. Independent research suggests that hydropower has helped avoid more than 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the past 50 years, exceeding the emissions averted by nuclear power. Over the lifetime of a power plant, hydropower has some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy generated.
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Hydropower vs. other energy sources
Hydropower, also known as hydroelectric power, is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy. It uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity. In 2022, hydropower accounted for about 14.3% of total electricity generation from all sources globally, and more than 50% of renewable electricity production. Hydropower is a clean and flexible source of electricity, with low greenhouse gas emissions and the ability to ramp up and down quickly to meet demand. It is also affordable, with relatively low costs over the lifetime of a project in terms of maintenance, operations, and fuel.
Compared to other energy sources, hydropower has some unique advantages. For example, it is a renewable source of energy that relies on the water cycle, driven by the sun. This makes it a more sustainable option than non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels, which have high carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, research suggests that the use of hydropower instead of fossil fuels has helped to avoid more than 100 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the past 50 years. Additionally, hydropower is a domestic source of energy, allowing states or countries to produce their own energy without relying on international fuel sources.
However, hydropower also faces some challenges and limitations. One of the main challenges is the high upfront construction costs associated with building dams, tunnels, and other necessary infrastructure. These costs can be particularly challenging in advanced economies, where the business case for hydropower plants has deteriorated due to declining electricity prices and a lack of long-term revenue certainty. Additionally, there are environmental and social concerns associated with hydropower projects, as well as long construction periods, which can increase investment risks.
Other energy sources, such as natural gas and coal, currently produce more electricity globally than hydropower. However, hydropower has the potential to provide more, and it is an important component of the energy mix in many countries. For example, in Norway, nearly 100% of electricity comes from hydropower, while Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, Sweden, Russia, China, India, Japan, and the United States also have significant shares of hydropower in their energy mix.
In conclusion, hydropower is a clean, flexible, and affordable source of electricity that has the potential to play a major role in the transition to renewable energy and the achievement of global net-zero targets. While it faces some challenges and limitations, it offers unique advantages over other energy sources and is an important component of the energy mix in many countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydropower accounts for more than 50% of renewable electricity production globally. In 2020, hydropower supplied 17% of global electricity generation, the third-largest source after coal and natural gas.
Hydropower accounted for about 6.2% of total US utility-scale electricity generation in 2022. Hydroelectricity provides about 7% of the electricity generated in the US and about half of the electricity from all renewable sources.
Hydropower accounts for over 70% of Washington State's electricity. Idaho, Washington, and Oregon are among the states that get most of their electricity from hydropower and have lower energy bills than the rest of the country.
Hydropower captures the kinetic energy of flowing water and turns it into electricity. Water flowing downstream is channelled through a pipe or penstock, turning the blades of a turbine to generate electricity.
