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15% of global electricity is generated from Hydropower

15.14 % Share of global electricity
24 gCO2eq/kWh Carbon Intensity

Hydro power, also known as hydroelectric power, is a form of energy that utilizes water to generate electricity. The energy source is derived from the movement of water, specifically the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It's one of the oldest forms of energy generation in the world, dating back to ancient civilizations utilizing water wheels. Today, it's considered a low-carbon and sustainable source of energy, similar to wind, nuclear, and solar power.

Producing electricity through hydro power involves the process of damming a river to create a reservoir, or using a flow of water from a high point. The potential energy stored in the water is converted to kinetic (motion) energy as it flows downhill and drives a turbine. This turbine is connected to an electric generator that transforms the mechanical energy of the turbine into electricity.

One significant advantage of hydro power is its low carbon intensity. With an average carbon intensity of 24 gCO2eq/kWh, hydro power, like nuclear (12 gCO2eq/kWh), wind (11 gCO2eq/kWh) and solar (45 gCO2eq/kWh) emits significantly fewer greenhouse gases when compared to fossil fuels such as coal (820 gCO2eq/kWh) and gas (490 gCO2eq/kWh). Thus, countries utilizing hydro power contribute less to global carbon emissions and climate change.

Moreover, the use of hydro power is more widespread than one might think, accounting for 15.14% of all electricity consumed globally. Some countries have invested heavily in this clean and sustainable technology, harnessing the power of their natural resources. Notably, hydro electricity provides a majority of electricity generation in many countries. In Iceland 71%, in Norway 88%, in Canada 61%, in Sweden 40%, and in Bhutan an impressive 100% of electricity comes from hydro power.

Hydro power, like wind, nuclear, and solar power sources, demonstrates the viability of low-carbon technologies in contributing to sustainable and green energy solutions worldwide. Commitment to these technologies is critical in the global response to climate change, and the reduction of dependence on high carbon-emitting fossil fuels. The success of hydro power in these countries serves as a testament to the sustainable potential of low-carbon technologies.

Country/Region Watts / person % TWh
Iceland 4333.3 W 71.3% 14.1 TWh
Norway 2847.4 W 88.3% 134.8 TWh
Bhutan 1321.4 W 100.0% 9.0 TWh
Canada 1174.5 W 61.5% 392.6 TWh
Greenland 1014.4 W 83.3% 0.5 TWh
Sweden 754.3 W 40.3% 69.2 TWh
Paraguay 679.3 W 99.7% 39.9 TWh
New Zealand 576.8 W 58.8% 25.9 TWh
Austria 461.5 W 49.0% 36.1 TWh
Switzerland 448.0 W 52.3% 34.1 TWh
Laos 438.3 W 71.3% 28.5 TWh
Albania 355.5 W 99.2% 8.9 TWh
Georgia 327.2 W 67.9% 10.8 TWh
French Guiana 317.6 W 61.3% 0.7 TWh
Finland 283.3 W 16.1% 13.7 TWh
Montenegro 249.1 W 42.4% 1.4 TWh
Venezuela 247.8 W 79.8% 61.2 TWh
Faroe Islands 237.3 W 26.2% 0.1 TWh
Brazil 228.0 W 61.2% 428.1 TWh
Kyrgyzstan 227.3 W 89.5% 13.0 TWh
Tajikistan 210.7 W 91.2% 18.0 TWh
Costa Rica 206.0 W 73.6% 9.3 TWh
Bosnia & Herzegovina 195.1 W 34.4% 5.6 TWh
Panama 188.9 W 64.3% 7.2 TWh
Uruguay 186.9 W 37.2% 5.6 TWh
Suriname 186.2 W 35.5% 1.0 TWh
Slovenia 171.8 W 21.9% 3.2 TWh
Latvia 168.7 W 37.5% 2.8 TWh
Ecuador 158.0 W 74.4% 24.6 TWh
Russia 153.8 W 17.5% 195.5 TWh
Croatia 150.4 W 28.2% 5.3 TWh
Colombia 137.4 W 73.0% 62.0 TWh
Serbia 136.1 W 22.0% 8.7 TWh
Chile 118.6 W 24.4% 20.3 TWh
Vietnam 117.9 W 38.0% 100.7 TWh
People's Republic of China 105.6 W 14.9% 1318.9 TWh
Malaysia 104.5 W 17.0% 30.7 TWh
Peru 100.6 W 49.2% 29.7 TWh
Zambia 94.2 W 90.7% 16.1 TWh
North Macedonia 91.2 W 19.3% 1.7 TWh
Turkey 90.3 W 20.4% 67.1 TWh
Armenia 90.0 W 30.1% 2.2 TWh
New Caledonia 87.3 W 6.5% 0.2 TWh
United States 85.1 W 5.8% 251.1 TWh
Portugal 84.2 W 13.5% 7.6 TWh
Romania 84.0 W 24.7% 14.2 TWh
France 81.7 W 9.5% 46.2 TWh
Slovakia 76.7 W 13.1% 3.7 TWh
EU 72.4 W 10.1% 282.4 TWh
Fiji 70.4 W 50.4% 0.6 TWh
Australia 68.7 W 6.2% 15.6 TWh
French Polynesia 67.6 W 25.7% 0.2 TWh
Japan 67.5 W 7.6% 73.7 TWh
Argentina 65.9 W 16.8% 26.1 TWh
Dominica 63.0 W 23.5% 0.0 TWh
The World 62.3 W 15.1% 4319.2 TWh
Bulgaria 61.5 W 7.3% 3.7 TWh
Italy 57.7 W 9.3% 29.9 TWh
Mozambique 56.9 W 80.4% 16.0 TWh
Kazakhstan 54.1 W 8.1% 9.1 TWh
North Korea 52.7 W 83.0% 12.0 TWh
Greece 51.7 W 8.5% 4.7 TWh
Réunion 50.9 W 13.8% 0.4 TWh
Namibia 49.6 W 29.3% 1.1 TWh
Gabon 48.8 W 35.2% 1.0 TWh
Spain 45.2 W 6.6% 18.8 TWh
St. Vincent & Grenadines 43.8 W 25.0% 0.0 TWh
El Salvador 43.6 W 29.1% 2.4 TWh
Guatemala 38.4 W 41.0% 5.9 TWh
Angola 38.0 W 70.0% 11.5 TWh
Mexico 31.8 W 10.0% 35.3 TWh
Equatorial Guinea 30.7 W 31.0% 0.4 TWh
Honduras 30.0 W 22.6% 2.7 TWh
Republic of China (Taiwan) 29.8 W 2.1% 6.2 TWh
Zimbabwe 28.6 W 40.9% 4.0 TWh
Ukraine 27.6 W 9.4% 10.5 TWh
Cambodia 27.5 W 32.5% 4.0 TWh
Bolivia 27.2 W 25.6% 2.9 TWh
Sri Lanka 26.2 W 30.6% 5.0 TWh
Ghana 25.1 W 34.4% 7.2 TWh
Lesotho 25.0 W 48.5% 0.5 TWh
Sudan 25.0 W 60.3% 10.0 TWh
Eswatini 23.9 W 15.1% 0.3 TWh
Germany 23.9 W 3.0% 17.4 TWh
Belize 22.8 W 8.1% 0.1 TWh
Nepal 22.8 W 67.5% 6.0 TWh
Czechia 22.0 W 2.4% 2.0 TWh
Iran 21.6 W 4.5% 16.6 TWh
Cameroon 21.0 W 62.0% 5.0 TWh
Samoa 20.9 W 23.5% 0.0 TWh
Lebanon 19.8 W 4.7% 1.0 TWh
Myanmar (Burma) 19.1 W 40.3% 9.0 TWh
Lithuania 18.4 W 3.5% 0.5 TWh
Pakistan 18.0 W 23.8% 36.4 TWh
Congo - Brazzaville 17.6 W 22.4% 0.9 TWh
Guinea 16.9 W 71.9% 2.0 TWh
Uzbekistan 16.7 W 8.1% 5.0 TWh
Ireland 16.3 W 2.1% 0.7 TWh
Egypt 14.7 W 6.8% 14.1 TWh
Azerbaijan 14.2 W 4.9% 1.3 TWh
India 14.2 W 9.5% 174.6 TWh
Côte d’Ivoire 13.7 W 30.1% 3.3 TWh
Ethiopia 13.3 W 95.3% 14.0 TWh
Congo - Kinshasa 13.1 W 98.0% 11.0 TWh
Iraq 12.8 W 4.2% 4.9 TWh
Liberia 11.6 W 57.6% 0.5 TWh
Thailand 10.7 W 3.0% 6.7 TWh
Luxembourg 10.7 W 0.9% 0.1 TWh
Indonesia 10.3 W 8.0% 24.7 TWh
Dominican Republic 10.3 W 5.7% 1.0 TWh
Moldova 10.1 W 2.8% 0.3 TWh
Uganda 10.0 W 90.9% 4.0 TWh
United Kingdom 9.7 W 1.8% 5.7 TWh
Nicaragua 9.5 W 9.5% 0.6 TWh
Papua New Guinea 9.2 W 16.5% 0.8 TWh
Philippines 8.8 W 7.8% 8.8 TWh
Mauritius 8.8 W 3.5% 0.1 TWh
South Korea 7.8 W 0.6% 3.5 TWh
Kenya 7.2 W 26.8% 3.3 TWh
Poland 6.1 W 1.1% 2.1 TWh
South Africa 5.8 W 1.4% 3.0 TWh
Malawi 5.7 W 70.4% 1.0 TWh
Jamaica 5.7 W 3.2% 0.1 TWh
Tanzania 5.4 W 36.2% 3.0 TWh
Mali 5.2 W 29.5% 1.0 TWh
Mauritania 5.2 W 10.1% 0.2 TWh
São Tomé & Príncipe 5.1 W 10.0% 0.0 TWh
Nigeria 4.7 W 27.3% 8.8 TWh
Belarus 4.6 W 0.9% 0.4 TWh
Syria 4.0 W 4.5% 0.8 TWh
Rwanda 3.8 W 51.1% 0.5 TWh
Morocco 3.7 W 2.9% 1.2 TWh
Central African Republic 3.1 W 100.0% 0.1 TWh
Madagascar 2.8 W 33.5% 0.7 TWh
Mongolia 2.7 W 0.9% 0.1 TWh
Sierra Leone 2.4 W 85.7% 0.2 TWh
Hungary 2.2 W 0.4% 0.2 TWh
Senegal 2.1 W 5.2% 0.3 TWh
Burundi 2.1 W 50.0% 0.2 TWh
Togo 2.0 W 10.4% 0.1 TWh
Belgium 2.0 W 0.2% 0.2 TWh
Afghanistan 1.8 W 10.0% 0.6 TWh
Puerto Rico 1.8 W 0.3% 0.1 TWh
Estonia 1.7 W 0.2% 0.0 TWh
Haiti 1.3 W 13.1% 0.1 TWh
Cuba 1.1 W 0.6% 0.1 TWh
Bangladesh 0.7 W 1.0% 1.0 TWh
Burkina Faso 0.6 W 3.9% 0.1 TWh
Tunisia 0.6 W 0.3% 0.1 TWh
Netherlands 0.4 W 0.0% 0.1 TWh
Denmark 0.4 W 0.1% 0.0 TWh
Israel 0.3 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Algeria 0.2 W 0.1% 0.1 TWh
Jordan 0.2 W 0.1% 0.0 TWh
Turkmenistan 0.1 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh