Although hydropower currently provides about one fifth of the world’s electricity supply, development of the world’s remaining technical potential could, by no means, cover the growth in future demand. However, carefully planned hydropower development can, and does, make a great contribution to improving electrical system reliability and stability throughout the world. Also, future development will play an important role in the improvement of living standards in the developing world, where the greatest hydropower potential still exists.

This development, together with the existing installed hydropower capacity (some 700 GW), will make a substantial contribution to the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions and the related climate change issues.

Hydroelectricity, at present the most important of the clean, economically feasible, renewable energy options, can be a major benefit of a water resources development project; however, it is seldom the only benefit. Hydropower stations integrated within multipurpose schemes generally subsidise other vital functions of a project, such as irrigation, water supply, improved navigation, flood mitigation, recreational facilities, and so on.

It is clear, therefore, that hydropower has an important role to play in the future, both in terms of energy supply and water resources development. As with all options, there is a need to develop the resources according to the highest social, environmental, economic and technical standards.

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