Global hydropower consumption 2023, by country

The largest global consumers of hydropower include China, Brazil, and Canada. Hydropower consumption in these countries totaled 11.5 exajoules, four exajoules, and 3.4 exajoules, respectively. Several provinces in Canada produce over 90 percent of their energy through hydropower. Due to plentiful and vast water bodies, Canada’s hydroelectricity potential is still much higher than its current consumption of hydro energy. Many of Canada’s hydropower facilities were constructed prior to 1990 and thus major rehabilitation and modernization of its power plants are necessary. 

Global hydropower

Hydropower consumption has generally increased over the last decades, reaching a peak of 41 exajoules in 2020 before declining moderately to 39.65 exajoules in 2023. It is one of the leading renewable sources worldwide due to its flexibility and consistency. Hydropower has long been capable of meeting base load electricity requirements and can meet peak and unexpected demand. There are three main types of hydropower stations. Run of river stations generate electricity through energy derived from river flow, reservoirs generate power by releasing stored water, and pumped storage facilities pump stored water back up to a higher reservoir to be re-released.