Indicator name

Capability for hydropower generation

Gross theoretical hydro potential (TWh/year) Africa Total Asia Total Australasia/Oceania Total Europe Total North and Central America Total South America Total WORLD TOTAL 4380 19717 658 3129 7601 7893 43378

Technically feasible hydro potential (TWh/year) 1484 8000 185 1199 1842 2807 15515

Economically feasible hydro potential (TWh/year) 830 4684 89 843 1058 1677 9180

Data taken from 2011 World Atlas & Industry Guide, published by Aqua-Media International Ltd, UK (yearbook of The International Journal on Hydropower and Dams), in September 2011, with some minor updating

Prepared by Example

Rationale Position in DPSIR chain Definition of indicator

Underlying definitions and concepts

UNIDO WWDR3, Chapter 7, Map 7.6 WWDR2, Chapter 9, Table 9.6 See annexed table for country breakdown In many countries, hydropower is already well developed but still growing, while in others it has the potential to expand greatly. State Gross theoretical capability of hydropower generation, technically exploitable capability and economically exploitable capability, in TWh/year (tera watthours per year) Hydropower generation is measured on a large scale in TWh/year. The gross theoretical capability expresses the total amount of electricity which could potentially be generated, if all available water resources were turned to this use. The technically exploitable capability expresses the hydropower capability

Specification of determinants needed Computation Unit(s) of expression Data sources, availability and quality

Scale of application Geographical coverage Interpretation

Linkage(s) to other indicators Alternative methods and definitions

Related indicator sets

Sources of further information

which is attractive and readily available with existing technology. The economically exploitable capability is that amount of hydropower generating capacity which could be built, after carrying out a feasibility study on each site at current prices, and producing a positive outcome. Gross theoretical capability Technically exploitable capability Economically exploitable capability Dependent upon a wide range of variables. Details available from International Hydropower Association (IHA). TWh/year International Hydropower Association (IHA) Good quality data. Data taken from 2011 World Atlas & Industry Guide, published by AquaMedia International Ltd, UK (yearbook of The International Journal on Hydropower and Dams), in September 2011, with some minor updating National Global Current deployment of hydropower is already high in much of the developed world, but is still growing in order to satisfy growing energy demand. In many less developed countries, there is enormous potential for hydropower development, as well as fast-expanding demand for electricity due to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. However, the economically exploitable capability is often only a fraction of the gross theoretical capability, for technical, political and financial reasons. This indicator links to the indicator on access to electricity, which relates to the pressure which exists in certain developing countries to generate more electricity by means of hydropower. Various scenarios of policy choices and social, economic and technological changes allow for different interpretations of the economically exploitable capability. While environmental concerns put the brake on many large hydro projects, the pendulum has now swung back and there are many large hydro projects in the pipeline. However, many environmental NGOs such as Friends of the Earth predict that it will be increasingly difficult to bring large hydro projects to completion due to organised resistance. This may make the technology increasingly expensive, thereby reducing the economically exploitable capabilities of various countries as shown here, which do not reflect the socio-political aspects of hydropower projects. World Development Indicators (World Bank) Earthtrends (WRI) World Commission on Dams World Energy Outlook, International Energy Agency (IEA), OECD International Hydropower Association, 2011 Activity Report, Available on http://www.hydropower.org/downloads/ActivityReports/201112_Activity_Report-web.pdf ( Accessed 28 October 2011) International Hydropower Association, 2011 Activity Report, Available on http://www.hydropower.org/downloads/ActivityReports/IHA_Activity_ Report_2010.pdf ( Accessed 28 October 2011) Kumar, A., T. Schei, A. Ahenkorah, R. Caceres Rodriguez, J.M. Devernay, M. Freitas, D. Hall, . Killingtveit, Z. Liu, 2011,Hydropower. In IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation [O. Edenhofer, R. PichsMadruga, Y. Sokona, K. Seyboth, P. Matschoss, S. Kadner, T. Zwickel, P. Eickemeier, G. Hansen, S. Schlmer, C. von Stechow (eds)], Cambridge University Press,

Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, Available on http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/report/IPCC_SRREN_Ch05.pdf (Accessed 28 October 2011)