深度-IHA-全球水电现状报告2021—行业趋势和洞察（英文）-2021.6-27页_7mb

2021 Hydropower Status Report Summary

Core Content

The 2021 Hydropower Status Report provides an overview of the global hydropower sector, highlighting its role in the energy transition and sustainability efforts. It outlines the current state of hydropower capacity, growth trends, regional developments, and the importance of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) in supporting variable renewables like wind and solar. The report also underscores the need for increased investment and policy support to meet climate goals and ensure reliable, clean energy supply.

Main Points

• Global Hydropower Overview:

  • Hydropower generated a record 4,370 TWh of clean electricity in 2020, equivalent to the entire annual electricity consumption of the United States.
  • Installed capacity reached 1,330 GW in 2020, showing a 1.6% year-on-year growth.
  • Total new capacity added in 2020 was 21 GW, including 1.5 GW of pumped storage, with China contributing the most (13.8 GW).
  • The global hydropower fleet is aging, and modernisation is essential to maintain reliability and support decarbonisation goals.

• Climate and Energy Transition:

  • The IEA's Net Zero by 2050 report estimates that the world will need 1,300 GW of new hydropower capacity by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
  • Annual growth rates need to increase to 2.3% to meet this target, significantly higher than the current 1.5–2%.
  • Hydropower will become the dominant source of flexible electricity by 2050, playing a critical role in balancing variable renewables.

• Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH):

  • PSH accounts for over 90% of the world's grid-scale energy storage and is vital for maintaining grid stability.
  • In 2020, PSH added 1.5 GW of capacity, with most of it coming from China (1.2 GW) and Israel (300 MW).
  • The International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower was launched in November 2020, bringing together 13 governments and over 80 organisations to guide the development of PSH.

• Regional Developments:

  • North and Central America: The U.S. and Canada made progress in modernising hydropower infrastructure, with the U.S. focusing on renewable energy and river protection.
  • South America: Brazil and Paraguay continued to lead in hydropower production, while Colombia and Bolivia saw new projects and investments.
  • Europe: Hydropower generated 4% more electricity in 2020 compared to 2019, despite reduced demand due to the pandemic. Turkey added 2,480 MW of new capacity.
  • Africa: Hydropower showed resilience, with Ethiopia, Angola, and Guinea increasing their shares in the electricity mix. Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam reached a key milestone in 2020.
  • South and Central Asia: India and Pakistan added new capacity, while extreme weather events highlighted the importance of hydropower in managing energy demand fluctuations.
  • East Asia and Pacific: China remained the world leader in installed capacity, with significant new projects like Wudongde. PSH projects in Australia advanced, including Snowy 2.0.

Key Information

• Capacity Growth:

  • Total capacity added in 2020: 21 GW.
  • Pumped storage capacity added: 1.5 GW.
  • China was the largest contributor, adding 13.8 GW, followed by Turkey (2.5 GW).

• Key Projects:

  • China: Wudongde (6.8 GW added), Jixi (1.2 GW of pumped storage).
  • Turkey: Ilisu (1.2 GW), Lower Kaleköy (0.5 GW).
  • Brazil: Itaipu set production records, and Sobradinho was modernised.
  • Angola: Lauca (2,071 MW) made it the second-largest hydropower producer in Africa.
  • Israel: Mount Gilboa (300 MW) was the only PSH facility outside of China commissioned in 2020.

• Policy and Innovation:

  • The EU Green Deal and Taxonomy Regulation are advancing sustainable hydropower.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull co-chair the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower.
  • The Forum aims to develop policies and best practices for PSH, with deliverables set for the 2021 World Hydropower Congress and COP26.

• Sustainability and Future Outlook:

  • The IHA is working on a new global sustainability standard for hydropower.
  • Hydropower is described as green, clean, modern, affordable, and reliable, essential for achieving global decarbonisation.
  • The report calls for a faster pace of development to ensure hydropower remains central to the energy transition.

Summary Table

Call to Action

The report serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, developers, and financiers to accelerate hydropower development to support the global shift to renewable energy and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It highlights the importance of hydropower in providing reliable, flexible, and sustainable energy, and encourages collaboration across sectors to scale up hydropower and PSH.