SHP in the World

Approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, a resource that has always been central to human development. The use of hydropower has been characterised by continuous technical development, and it is currently the second most used renewable energy source in the world, just behind solid biomass. Hydro supplies the vast majority of renewable electricity, generating 16.6% of world supply and 92% of total renewable energy electricity (IEA, 2003)

There is no international consensus on the definition of small hydropower (SHP). In China, it can refer to capacities of up to 25 MW, in India up to 15 MW and in Sweden small means up to 1.5 MW. However, a capacity of up to 10 MW total is becoming the generally accepted norm by ESHA, the European Commission and UNIPEDE (International Union of Producers and Distributors of Electricity).

Asia, especially China, is set to become a leader in hydro-electric generation. Present developments in Australia and New Zealand are focussing on small hydropower plants. Canada, a country with a long tradition in using hydropower, is developing small hydropower as a replacement for expensive diesel generation in remote off-grid communities. Markets such as South America, the former Soviet Union and Africa also possess great, untapped potential.

The World Energy Council (WEC) estimates that under current policies, installed capacity of small hydro will increase to 55 GW by 2010 with the largest increase coming from China. In the year 2000 the world-installed capacity of small hydropower was about 37 GW. All regions of the world are experiencing significant increases in small hydro capacity, with China again showing the greatest increase.