High-resolution assessment of global technical and economic hydropower potential

David E. H. J. Gernaat (), Patrick W. Bogaart, Detlef P. van Vuuren, Hester Biemans and Robin Niessink
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David E. H. J. Gernaat: PBL - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Patrick W. Bogaart: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University
Detlef P. van Vuuren: PBL - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Hester Biemans: PBL - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Robin Niessink: PBL - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

Nature Energy, 2017, vol. 2, issue 10, 821-828

Abstract: Abstract Hydropower is the most important renewable energy source to date, providing over 72% of all renewable electricity globally. Yet, only limited information is available on the global potential supply of hydropower and the associated costs. Here we provide a high-resolution assessment of the technical and economic potential of hydropower at a near-global scale. Using 15”×15” discharge and 3”×3” digital elevation maps, we built virtual hydropower installations at >3.8 million sites across the globe and calculated their potential using cost optimization methods. This way we identified over 60,000 suitable sites, which together represent a remaining global potential of 9.49 PWh yr−1 below US$0.50 kWh−1. The largest remaining potential is found in Asia Pacific (39%), South America (25%) and Africa (24%), of which a large part can be produced at low cost (

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-017-0006-y

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