Hydropower has become an afterthought, yet it remains critical to our clean energy goals

Overshadowed by solar and wind, hydropower doesn’t garner much press these days. So it’s easy to forget the significant role it still plays in providing clean energy.

In 2023, the world added 20 gigawatts of hydropower capacity. However, weather conditions resulted in a decline in overall electricity generation.

China was hit the hardest, experiencing a 4.9% decline in generation. In North America the decline was a byproduct of the warmer, drier conditions brought on by El Niño. Europe was one of the few regions that experienced an improvement, but that was mainly due to a particularly bad 2022.

What are the expectations for the U.S. this year?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects a rebound. They are projecting a 6% increase in generation totaling 250 billion kWh. More hydropower is generated in the northwest and Rockies than anywhere else in the U.S. and the EIA is anticipating a 3% increase in production there. If that holds true, hydropower will account for 29% of the region’s power generation.

It may be the overlooked source of clean energy, but hydropower continues to play a critical role in achieving our net-zero goals.

#hydropower #eia #elnino #cleanenergy #netzero