Is Hydropower Available In All Parts Of The World?

Hydropower is defined as the generation of electrical power through the use of the kinetic energy of flowing water (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydropower). Water flowing through dams spins turbines that activate generators to produce electricity. Hydropower provides a clean and renewable energy source that relies on the water cycle, rather than fossil fuels like oil or coal. It’s an important renewable energy source for many parts of the world. Globally, hydropower represents over 16% of electricity generation and 85% of all renewable electricity (https://www.iea.org/reports/hydropower-special-market-report). With growing concerns about climate change and the need to transition to more sustainable energy sources, hydropower can play a key role in the renewable energy mix in regions where it’s feasible.

Global Hydropower Potential

The global technical potential for hydropower generation is estimated to be around 14,576 TWh/year. However, only a portion of this potential can be economically developed based on geographical factors. The economically exploitable potential is estimated between 8,462 – 12,991 TWh/year. The regions with the highest technically feasible and economically viable potential are Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Asia accounts for over 50% of global potential, with large untapped resources in China, India, Indonesia and other countries. Africa has the second highest potential, but only around 7% has been developed. Latin America also has significant potential, especially in Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. Developed regions like North America and Europe have already tapped most of their viable hydropower resources.

Factors Influencing Hydropower Viability

Several key factors determine whether hydropower is a viable option in a given location, including topography, precipitation patterns, and water flows. Areas with high elevations and steep terrain are ideal for hydropower, as this allows for greater hydraulic head at the dam. According to the Water Power Magazine, hydropower plants require substantial water flows and precipitation to generate electricity consistently [1]. Regions with high annual rainfall and snowmelt feeding major rivers or large watersheds provide the necessary renewable water resources. Seasonal variability is also a consideration, as hydropower output changes depending on wet versus dry seasons. Overall, mountainous areas with high precipitation tend to offer the best hydropower resources.

Research shows topography and water availability are the most influential factors determining hydropower viability worldwide. Regions with favorable conditions like the Himalayas, the Andes, and northwest North America have thriving hydropower industries. Meanwhile, flatter and drier areas face greater limitations. Careful site selection and project design can partially mitigate suboptimal topography or hydrology, but regions with abundant elevation drop and precipitation fundamentally have much higher hydropower potential.

Hydropower Development by Region

There are substantial differences in hydropower development and capacity between geographic regions. According to Statista, in 2022 the region with the highest hydropower generation was Asia Pacific at 57% of global generation. This was driven largely by China, which alone accounted for over 30% of worldwide hydropower. Other leading countries in the region for hydropower include India, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea.

The second highest region for hydropower generation was Europe & Eurasia at 19%. Norway generated the most in this region, meeting over 95% of domestic electricity demand from hydropower. Other significant European producers included France, Sweden, Italy and Switzerland.

Latin America had 13% of global capacity, led by Brazil which relies on hydropower for over 65% of its electricity. Canada and the United States accounted for most of North America’s 9% share. The remaining 2% came from the Middle East & Africa, where hydropower resources are significant but underutilized in some nations.

Overall the data shows significant variation between regions based on resource availability and infrastructure development. Asia dominates global capacity but other areas such as Latin America and Africa have substantial untapped potential. Developed countries in Europe and North America also rely heavily on hydropower as a renewable electricity source.

Sources:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/712808/hydropower-generation-worldwide-by-region/

Barriers to Hydropower Development

There are several key barriers that can hinder the development of hydropower globally. These barriers tend to fall into three main categories: economic, political, and environmental.

On the economic front, hydropower projects often require very large upfront capital investments. Building dams, tunnels, turbines and other infrastructure can cost billions of dollars (https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/78265.pdf). Developing countries in particular can struggle to secure financing for such massive projects. There are also concerns around the economic viability of projects if electricity demand is uncertain.

Politically, hydropower development may face opposition due to issues around transboundary water resources. Projects situated on major rivers that cross national borders can cause tensions if downstream nations fear their water supply being restricted. There can also be disagreements over water rights and usage. Lobbying against projects by anti-dam activists has also hindered political support in some countries.

Environmental barriers center around the potential ecological impacts of building large dams and reservoirs. Flooding land and forests can damage habitat, displace species, and alter ecosystems. Dams also change natural water flows which can harm fish migration and spawning. Stricter environmental regulations have made approvals for new hydropower facilities more difficult in many parts of the world.

Promoting Sustainable Hydropower

While hydropower can provide clean, renewable energy, large hydropower projects can also have major environmental and social impacts if not properly managed. Promoting sustainable hydropower that balances energy needs with protecting ecosystems and communities is crucial.

Environmental protections like maintaining minimum ecological water flows, installing fish ladders, and preventing deforestation are important to minimize impacts on water quality, fish migration, and biodiversity. According to a presentation on sustainable hydropower best practices, key principles include “a river basin approach, biodiversity conservation, participatory decision-making, compliance assurance, and benefit sharing” (source).

Community engagement through resettlement planning, compensation, and benefit sharing is also vital. Adequate resettlement programs must be in place before construction begins to avoid impoverishment risks for displaced communities. This involves consultation, livelihood restoration, and providing displaced individuals with replacement land, housing, and access to resources (source).

Overall, sustainable hydropower requires balancing energy generation with protecting both local environments and communities. It involves comprehensive planning and mitigation programs to ensure projects generate power responsibly.

Case Studies

There are many examples of hydropower projects implemented in different parts of the world. Here are a few case studies:

The La Yesca Dam in Mexico was completed in 2012 and has an installed capacity of 750 MW. It is located on the Santiago River and provides renewable energy and flood control benefits. The project faced challenges related to resettlement of local communities but implemented measures to mitigate impacts (Better Hydro: Compendium of Case Studies 2017).

The Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project in Laos is a 290 MW run-of-river project completed in 2019. It supplies clean energy to Thailand and Laos while implementing environmental and social measures like fish passages, river habitat enhancement, and livelihood restoration programs for affected communities (Hydropower Case Study Collection: Innovative Low Head Technologies and Fish Migration).

The Asahan No. 1 Hydropower Plant in Indonesia is one of the largest hydropower stations in Southeast Asia with an installed capacity of 670 MW. Completed in 1973, it supports the country’s economic development through renewable energy generation and flood control on the Asahan River (Better Hydro: Compendium of Case Studies).

Future Outlook

The future outlook for hydropower is promising, with significant potential for further growth globally. According to the World Energy Council, the technically feasible hydropower potential that remains to be developed is approximately 8,000 TWh/year, with the largest potentials located in Africa, Asia and South America.[1] However, only around 20-25% of the feasible potential has been developed so far.

To unlock more of this potential, innovations in hydropower technologies will be important. Areas of innovation include: optimizing turbine design, developing new pumped storage capabilities, integrating hydropower with other renewables, and utilizing artificial intelligence to improve operations. For example, machine learning can help to more accurately forecast electricity production based on weather and climate data, allowing output to be better matched with demand.[2]

With the right policies, investments, and innovations, hydropower can continue to expand as part of the global renewable energy mix and make an important contribution to clean electricity access worldwide.

Conclusions

In conclusion, hydropower availability and viability varies greatly around the world due to differences in geography, climate, infrastructure, and policy. While some parts of the world like Latin America, Africa, and Asia have abundant untapped hydropower potential, realizing this potential depends on many complex factors. Developed regions like North America and Europe have already exploited much of their viable hydropower resources. Overall, hydropower will continue playing a major role in renewable energy transitions globally, but its growth depends on proper planning, sustainable development, and overcoming barriers through technology, finance, and policy improvements. With the right strategies and investments, hydropower can sustainably expand and provide clean, renewable electricity to meet growing energy demands worldwide.

References

International Energy Agency. 2020. “Hydropower.” IEA, Paris. https://www.iea.org/reports/hydropower

International Hydropower Association. 2021. “2021: Hydropower Status Report.” IHA, London. https://www.hydropower.org/publications/2021-hydropower-status-report

Müller, Daniel B., Gavin M. Mudd, Damien Giurco, Alicia N. Gomez-Echeverri, Tao Yuan, Simon Watkins, Céline Loubet, and Danielle Maia de Souza. 2021. “Lithium and Sustainable Development.” Nature Communications 12 (1): 2657. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22684-1.

Olsson, Olle, Gary A. Meyers, and Rajesh Nair. 2020. “Hydropower’s Global Contribution.” Nature Energy 5 (11): 814–16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-020-00696-3.

World Energy Council. 2022. “World Energy Issues Monitor 2022.” London. https://www.worldenergy.org/publications/entry/world-energy-issues-monitor-2022