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Global Hydropower ScenarioHydropower constitutes 21% of the world’s electricity generating capacity. The theoretical potential of worldwide hydropower is 2,800 GW, about four times greater than the 723 GW that has been exploited. Yet, the actual amount of electricity that will ever be generated by hydropower will be much lower than the theoretical potential, due to the environmental concerns and economic constraints. About 44 % of the world’s hydropower was generated in four countries in 2002, mostly large- and mid-scale plants.
Asia accounted for 24% of the world’s hydro generation, with 618 GWh, followed by North America with 23% (595 GWh) and Europe with 20% (537 GWh).
Canada with 315 GWh is the largest producer of hydropower in the world followed by China with 309 GWh. Brazil with 282 GWh and the United States with 255 GWh comes after them. Even though Canadian hydro generation is growing, China will overtake Canada very soon, if it has not already done so, to become the largest hydro generator in the world. In Western Europe and the United States, the scope for additional hydropower is limited, as the most economic sites have already been developed and further expansion is hindered by environmental concerns.
In North America, hydropower is the most widely used form of renewable energy. The installed hydropower capacity amounts to 175 GW (67 GW in Canada, 99 GW in the US, and 10 GW in Mexico).
Hydropower accounts for 57% of the electricity generated in Canada, 7% in the US (the US uses hydropower for peaking not base load) and 12% in Mexico. Canada’s economical hydropower potential is second only to that of Brazil in the Western Hemisphere. Canada still has several projects under either construction or planning, amounting to 6.6 GW.
Latin America has a very large hydropower potential. Many countries rely heavily on hydropower for their electricity supply. For instance, hydropower makes up 80% of Brazil’s electricity generation.
Brazil has plentiful hydropower resources. Its installed hydropower capacity is 64 GW. The capacity under construction or planning is more than 25 GW. One of the hydropower plants under construction is the giant 11.18 GW Belo Monte power plant. Hydropower capacity under construction or planning in other South American countries, particularly Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela, amounts to 9.7 GW. Also, 4.4 GW of hydropower capacity is under construction or planning in Central American countries.
China has the largest hydropower resources in the world, with a huge territory and a host of rivers. Its installed hydropower capacity rest at 83 GW by the end of 2002. A large number of hydropower plants are under construction or planning, amounting to 77.7 GW. The giant 18.2 GW Three Gorges Dam with a dam height of 181 m on the Yangtze River (the country’s longest river) is the world’s largest hydropower project under construction. Even though hydropower plants based on dams and reservoirs may require displacement and relocation of large numbers of people, China has one of the best resettlement programs in the world.
Russia holds fifth place with 180 GWh and Norway in sixth with 125 GWh. Norway is regarded by many as having the best managed hydro system in the world, which accounts for 99.3% of the total power generated in that country.
Although there are hydroelectric power projects under construction in about 80 countries, the majority of the remaining hydro potential is found in developing countries particularly in South and Central Asia, Latin America and Africa. In most of the European countries the economically feasible hydro power potential has mostly been harnessed. |
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