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14% of global electricity is generated from Hydropower

14.17 % Share of global electricity
24 gCO2eq/kWh Carbon Intensity

Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, harnesses the energy of flowing water, typically from rivers or reservoirs, to generate electricity. This form of energy has been utilized for centuries, initially for mechanical tasks like grinding grain or pumping water, but in contemporary times it primarily serves to produce electricity. Hydropower plants typically rely on dams to store river water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through turbines, generating electricity as it spins them. This renewable energy source is highly efficient and can provide consistent power output, making it a staple in the global energy mix.

The process of generating electricity from hydro involves several key steps. Water stored in a reservoir behind a dam is channeled through turbines. As the water flows over the turbine blades, it causes them to spin. This rotation activates a generator, which converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The generated electricity is then transmitted via power lines to homes and businesses. Hydroelectric plants can be swiftly ramped up or down to match demand, offering a reliable and flexible power source.

One of the major advantages of hydroelectric power is its low carbon intensity, which is about 24 gCO2eq/kWh. This is significantly lower than fossil fuels such as coal (820 gCO2eq/kWh) and gas (490 gCO2eq/kWh), contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and helping combat climate change. In comparison, wind and nuclear power also boast very low carbon intensities of 11 and 12 gCO2eq/kWh, respectively, while solar energy records around 45 gCO2eq/kWh. Collectively, these low-carbon energy sources are vital for creating a sustainable future.

Hydropower plays a substantial role in global electricity generation, accounting for 14.17% of all electricity consumed worldwide. It demonstrates the scalability and potential of hydroelectricity to support a significant portion of the energy grid. Countries like Iceland, Norway, Bhutan, and Paraguay have harnessed hydro to a remarkable extent, generating 70%, 89%, 92%, and 100% of their electricity from hydro, respectively. This emphasizes hydro's capability to meet large-scale energy demands cleanly and sustainably.

Canada also benefits significantly from hydroelectric power, generating 58% of its electricity from this source. These examples underscore the feasibility of hydro as a major electricity provider, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting environmental goals. By combining hydro with other low-carbon technologies like nuclear, wind, and solar, countries can develop a robust and diversified energy sector that minimizes carbon emissions.

In summary, hydroelectric power serves as a crucial component of a clean, green electricity grid. Its low carbon intensity and substantial contribution to global electricity generation demonstrate its pivotal role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels. When integrated with other low-carbon energy sources like nuclear, wind, and solar, hydropower can help drive the transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon future.

Country/Region Watts / person % TWh
Iceland 4383.5 W 70.3% 14.2 TWh
Norway 2872.6 W 88.6% 136.0 TWh
Bhutan 1321.4 W 91.6% 9.0 TWh
Canada 1089.6 W 57.5% 364.2 TWh
Greenland 872.4 W 76.8% 0.4 TWh
Paraguay 747.0 W 99.7% 43.9 TWh
Sweden 720.6 W 39.7% 66.1 TWh
New Zealand 579.5 W 58.5% 26.0 TWh
Laos 513.5 W 72.7% 33.4 TWh
Switzerland 512.2 W 54.8% 39.0 TWh
Austria 509.1 W 58.9% 39.8 TWh
Montenegro 387.3 W 51.4% 2.1 TWh
Georgia 329.6 W 75.5% 10.8 TWh
Finland 311.6 W 18.5% 15.1 TWh
Albania 278.3 W 87.9% 7.0 TWh
Slovenia 267.2 W 32.6% 5.0 TWh
Venezuela 265.9 W 77.6% 65.7 TWh
Panama 242.4 W 69.2% 9.2 TWh
Faroe Islands 237.3 W 26.2% 0.1 TWh
Latvia 231.5 W 54.1% 3.8 TWh
Brazil 229.7 W 59.4% 431.3 TWh
French Guiana 226.4 W 58.4% 0.6 TWh
Bosnia & Herzegovina 222.3 W 37.4% 6.4 TWh
Croatia 221.3 W 41.7% 7.9 TWh
Tajikistan 218.5 W 89.4% 18.7 TWh
Kyrgyzstan 208.1 W 73.5% 11.9 TWh
Serbia 190.7 W 32.0% 12.2 TWh
Costa Rica 187.2 W 68.6% 8.4 TWh
Suriname 184.4 W 47.4% 1.0 TWh
Ecuador 170.7 W 75.0% 26.6 TWh
Russia 158.0 W 17.0% 200.9 TWh
Chile 140.0 W 28.6% 23.9 TWh
Portugal 121.8 W 19.9% 11.0 TWh
Uruguay 120.6 W 26.6% 3.6 TWh
Colombia 120.2 W 62.2% 54.2 TWh
Malaysia 108.4 W 17.1% 31.9 TWh
Romania 108.1 W 32.5% 18.3 TWh
Peru 106.7 W 52.5% 31.5 TWh
Zambia 100.2 W 87.8% 17.1 TWh
People's Republic of China 98.2 W 13.0% 1226.0 TWh
Slovakia 97.0 W 15.6% 4.6 TWh
France 94.1 W 10.3% 53.2 TWh
Vietnam 89.9 W 28.8% 76.8 TWh
North Macedonia 89.6 W 23.5% 1.6 TWh
New Caledonia 87.3 W 8.0% 0.2 TWh
Turkey 85.8 W 19.7% 63.7 TWh
Argentina 83.6 W 20.0% 33.2 TWh
EU 82.5 W 11.8% 321.5 TWh
Armenia 81.8 W 22.8% 2.0 TWh
United States 79.3 W 5.5% 234.0 TWh
Italy 73.1 W 12.1% 37.9 TWh
Fiji 70.4 W 54.8% 0.6 TWh
Japan 68.2 W 7.4% 74.5 TWh
French Polynesia 67.6 W 25.7% 0.2 TWh
Australia 67.2 W 5.6% 15.3 TWh
Dominica 63.0 W 23.5% 0.0 TWh
Spain 61.2 W 9.0% 25.5 TWh
The World 61.2 W 14.2% 4240.2 TWh
North Korea 56.3 W 57.5% 12.8 TWh
Mozambique 55.1 W 81.4% 15.5 TWh
Kazakhstan 52.3 W 7.8% 8.8 TWh
Bulgaria 51.6 W 7.8% 3.1 TWh
Gabon 48.3 W 33.9% 1.0 TWh
Honduras 44.4 W 32.7% 4.0 TWh
St. Vincent & Grenadines 43.8 W 23.5% 0.0 TWh
Réunion 42.5 W 11.7% 0.4 TWh
Greece 42.3 W 7.1% 3.9 TWh
Zimbabwe 42.0 W 55.0% 5.9 TWh
Angola 41.8 W 74.6% 12.6 TWh
Nepal 36.8 W 87.4% 9.7 TWh
Namibia 35.2 W 20.5% 0.8 TWh
Republic of China (Taiwan) 33.6 W 2.5% 7.0 TWh
Equatorial Guinea 33.5 W 32.7% 0.5 TWh
Guatemala 32.9 W 38.5% 5.1 TWh
Sri Lanka 30.7 W 34.7% 5.9 TWh
El Salvador 29.3 W 20.5% 1.6 TWh
Ukraine 29.1 W 9.8% 11.1 TWh
Eswatini 28.7 W 20.1% 0.3 TWh
Cambodia 27.5 W 32.3% 4.0 TWh
Sudan 27.5 W 58.5% 11.0 TWh
Germany 26.7 W 3.8% 19.5 TWh
Ghana 26.1 W 33.3% 7.5 TWh
Czechia 25.4 W 3.1% 2.3 TWh
Lesotho 25.0 W 53.8% 0.5 TWh
Belize 22.8 W 13.6% 0.1 TWh
Bolivia 21.8 W 19.0% 2.3 TWh
Ireland 21.3 W 2.7% 0.9 TWh
Cameroon 21.0 W 61.6% 5.0 TWh
Samoa 20.9 W 21.1% 0.0 TWh
Myanmar (Burma) 19.9 W 51.6% 9.4 TWh
Lithuania 18.8 W 3.6% 0.5 TWh
Pakistan 18.7 W 23.5% 37.9 TWh
Mexico 18.7 W 5.8% 20.7 TWh
Iran 18.1 W 3.8% 13.9 TWh
Azerbaijan 17.7 W 5.5% 1.6 TWh
Congo - Brazzaville 17.6 W 22.5% 0.9 TWh
Guinea 16.9 W 65.8% 2.0 TWh
Uzbekistan 16.6 W 6.3% 5.0 TWh
Egypt 14.7 W 7.0% 14.0 TWh
Ethiopia 14.0 W 95.7% 14.8 TWh
Côte d’Ivoire 13.9 W 30.1% 3.4 TWh
Congo - Kinshasa 13.1 W 88.4% 11.0 TWh
Moldova 12.7 W 5.7% 0.3 TWh
Luxembourg 12.5 W 1.1% 0.1 TWh
Lebanon 12.5 W 5.8% 0.6 TWh
India 12.1 W 7.6% 149.2 TWh
Uganda 12.0 W 89.2% 4.8 TWh
Liberia 11.6 W 67.1% 0.5 TWh
Mauritius 11.4 W 3.7% 0.1 TWh
Indonesia 11.4 W 8.2% 27.3 TWh
Thailand 10.5 W 3.0% 6.6 TWh
Dominican Republic 10.3 W 4.6% 1.0 TWh
Nicaragua 10.0 W 11.3% 0.6 TWh
Papua New Guinea 9.2 W 16.6% 0.8 TWh
Philippines 9.1 W 7.7% 9.1 TWh
United Kingdom 8.9 W 1.7% 5.2 TWh
South Korea 8.2 W 0.6% 3.7 TWh
Mali 7.3 W 35.6% 1.4 TWh
Poland 7.1 W 1.4% 2.4 TWh
Iraq 6.9 W 2.2% 2.6 TWh
Malawi 6.0 W 77.8% 1.1 TWh
Kenya 5.8 W 20.8% 2.7 TWh
Jamaica 5.7 W 3.1% 0.1 TWh
Mauritania 5.2 W 11.1% 0.2 TWh
São Tomé & Príncipe 5.1 W 7.1% 0.0 TWh
Tanzania 5.1 W 30.8% 2.8 TWh
Belarus 4.6 W 1.0% 0.4 TWh
Nigeria 4.4 W 20.4% 8.3 TWh
Rwanda 4.3 W 51.0% 0.5 TWh
Syria 4.0 W 4.4% 0.8 TWh
Belgium 3.7 W 0.5% 0.4 TWh
South Africa 3.2 W 0.8% 1.7 TWh
Central African Republic 3.1 W 100.0% 0.1 TWh
Madagascar 3.1 W 33.1% 0.8 TWh
Guadeloupe 2.9 W 0.6% 0.0 TWh
Mongolia 2.7 W 0.8% 0.1 TWh
Hungary 2.6 W 0.5% 0.2 TWh
Sierra Leone 2.4 W 90.0% 0.2 TWh
Togo 2.1 W 9.5% 0.2 TWh
Senegal 2.1 W 3.8% 0.3 TWh
Burundi 2.0 W 47.8% 0.2 TWh
Afghanistan 1.8 W 9.2% 0.6 TWh
Puerto Rico 1.8 W 0.3% 0.1 TWh
Estonia 1.7 W 0.2% 0.0 TWh
Haiti 1.4 W 13.5% 0.1 TWh
Morocco 1.3 W 1.0% 0.4 TWh
Cuba 1.2 W 0.7% 0.1 TWh
Burkina Faso 0.6 W 5.2% 0.1 TWh
Bangladesh 0.5 W 0.6% 0.7 TWh
Netherlands 0.4 W 0.1% 0.1 TWh
Israel 0.3 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Jordan 0.2 W 0.1% 0.0 TWh
Denmark 0.2 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Tunisia 0.1 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Turkmenistan 0.1 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Algeria 0.0 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
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