The absolute growth in power generation by HPPs totaled 73 TWh, which is commensurate with Finland’s annual power output. A quarter of this growth (18 TWh) came from China, which brought the Baihetan HPP online in 2022, making it the leading HPP worldwide in terms of the specific capacity of power units and the second HPP globally in terms of overall installed capacity (16 GW) after the Three Gorges Dam (22.5 GW).
The Baihetan HPP has become part of a 1,800 km long energy corridor, which also includes three HPPs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (the Siluodu, Udunde and Xiangjiaba HPPs) and two HPPs in its middle part (the Gezhouba HPP and the Three Gorges Dam). These six HPPs taken together will be able to generate 300 terawatt-hours of electricity per year (which is comparable to Indonesia’s annual power consumption), thereby saving 248 mln t of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually. Nearly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions was recorded in 2021 as a result of associated gas flaring worldwide, with the exception of Africa (247 mln t of CO2-equivalent according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy).
In addition to China, increases in hydropower generation in 2022 were observed in Brazil (by 65 Wh), Vietnam (by 25 TWh), Canada (by 15 TWh), India (by 14 Wh) and Turkey (by 11 Wh). Increases in these countries were offset by the reductions in hydropower generation in the European Union (by 66 Wh) due to unfavourable weather conditions. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the specific volume of precipitation in Germany in 2022 (670 litres per square metre) was 15% below the average level of 1991–2020 (791 litres per square metre).
The greatest potential for growth in hydropower generation is concentrated in developing countries. Among them is Ethiopia, which brought two hydroelectric units into operation in 2022. The units have an aggregate capacity of 750 megawatts (MW) and operate as part of the Hidase Dam, where another 14 power units totaling 5,250 MW are being built. Another focal point of growth for the industry is India, which approved the construction of Dibang, the country’s largest HPP, early this year: the 2,880 MW plant will be built in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh bordered by China. Hydro power plants will continue to play a major role in the power supply systems of many developed countries, including Canada and Norway, where the share of HPPs in the energy mix totaled 61% and 88% respectively in 2022.
