Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential

Olivier A C Hoes; Lourens J J Meijer; Ruud J van der Ent; Nick C van de Giesen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171844

Systematic high-resolution assessment of global hydropower potential

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 8;12(2):e0171844. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171844. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Olivier A C Hoes¹, Lourens J J Meijer^{1

2}, Ruud J van der Ent^{1

3}, Nick C van de Giesen¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
² Witteveen+Bos Raadgevende ingenieurs B.V., Deventer, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Population growth, increasing energy demand and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves necessitate a search for sustainable alternatives for electricity generation. Hydropower could replace a large part of the contribution of gas and oil to the present energy mix. However, previous high-resolution estimates of hydropower potential have been local, and have yet to be applied on a global scale. This study is the first to formally present a detailed evaluation of the hydropower potential of each location, based on slope and discharge of each river in the world. The gross theoretical hydropower potential is approximately 52 PWh/year divided over 11.8 million locations. This 52 PWh/year is equal to 33% of the annually required energy, while the present energy production by hydropower plants is just 3% of the annually required energy. The results of this study: all potentially interesting locations for hydroelectric power plants, are available online.

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources
Databases, Factual
Geography
Humans
Models, Theoretical*
Power Plants*
Renewable Energy*

Grants and funding

The funder (Witteveen+Bos Raadgevende ingenieurs B.V.) provided support in the form of salaries for author LJJM, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. LJJM performed most of his work when he was affiliated with Delft University of Technology as a student.