Development Status

By the end of 2016, the world’s total installed power generation capacity is approximately 6.0 billion kW, of which hydropower produces 1.246 billion kW, accounting for 19% of the world’s total capacity. Countries of the world give priorities to hydropower development where hydropower resources are abundant, to save coal and petroleum and other precious resources and reduce CO₂ emission as well as pollution from fossil energy to environment and atmosphere.

On June 5, 2012, the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), International Hydropower Association (IHA) and International Water Resources Association (IWRA) jointly issued a world declaration called Water Storage for Sustainable Development in Kyoto, Japan, appealing to the whole world to make joint efforts to develop water storage infrastructure in a sustainable way, accelerate development of international rivers and promote national and regional development. All the interested parties, government agencies, enterprises, NGOs and local groups shall strengthen cooperation in implementing the solutions of water resources, in accelerating the development of international rivers, in reducing the impact of water storage facilities on environment and society and in promoting national and local development through innovative investment mechanism.

Currently, the level of hydropower development in developed countries is generally fairly high: the average level is higher than 70%, and in Norway, for instance, the hydropower development rate stands at 99%, and in America, it stands at 82%. In developing countries, the level of hydropower development is generally lower: in China, it is at about 55%, and in Indonesia, Laos and other countries, it is at about 10%, and normally only 5% to 8% in African countries. Myanmar has abundant hydropower resources, but the current level of development is less than 3.2%.