13 May 2019

The 2019 Hydropower Status Report offers insights and trends on the hydropower sector.

The sixth edition of the report provides information and statistics on installed capacity and estimated generation by country and by region, as well as articles by five leading government ministers.

Key findings:

• More than 21.8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable hydroelectric capacity was put into operation in 2018.
• Electricity generation from hydropower projects achieved a record 4,200 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2018, the highest ever contribution from a renewable energy source, as worldwide installed hydropower capacity climbed to 1,292 GW, according to the report.
• China added the most capacity with the installation of 8,540 megawatts (MW), followed by Brazil (3,866 MW), Pakistan (2,487 MW), Turkey (1,085 MW), Angola (668 MW), Tajikistan (605 MW), Ecuador (556 MW), India (535 MW), Norway (419 MW) and Canada (401 MW).
• Brazil has now overtaken the United States as the second largest producer of hydroelectricity by installed capacity, after 3,055 MW was put into operation last year at the 11,000 MW Belo Monte complex in the country’s northeast.

Contributions from policy-makers

Government ministers from Canada, Indonesia, Nepal, Uganda and Uruguay contribute policy interventions, each emphasising the need for investment in renewable hydropower to help countries achieve sustainable development.

• Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Amarjeet Sohi, writes about industry efforts to build partnerships with indigenous communities and create long-term economic opportunities.
• Indonesia’s Minister of National Development Planning, Bambang P. Soemantri Brodjonegoro, explains how his country is committed to reducing GHG emissions by 29 per cent by 2030 through developing hydropower and other renewables.
• Nepal’s Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun, writes that his government is aiming to attract foreign investment in hydropower while exploring regional energy interconnections.
• Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Irene Nafuna Muloni, emphasises the need to raise investment capital for hydropower development as a way to widen electricity access and support socio-economic transformation.
• Uruguay’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Guillermo Moncecchi, reports on the strong complementarity between hydropower and other variable renewable energy sources.

PowerPoint

Download the PowerPoint of the 2019 Hydropower Status Report.

Media enquiries

Media requests should be directed to will.henley@hydropower.org