HYDRO, A KEY RENEWABLE

U.S. report: Hydro to lead global renewables growth through 2035
September 28, 2011 (PennWell via HydroWorld)

"…[T]he U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), said renewable energy sources are the fastest growing sources of electricity generation globally…[T]o 2035, world renewable energy use for electricity generation will grow an average of 3.1 percent per year…the renewable share of world electricity generation will increase from 19 percent in 2008 to 23 percent in 2030 ..

"[Hydroelectric power will constitute 55 percent of the renewable energy added globally and wind will be 27 percent through 2035]… EIA said most renewable technologies other than hydroelectricity are not able to compete economically with fossil fuels during the projection period, except in a few regions or niche markets. It said government policies or incentives often provide the primary economic motivation for construction of renewables generation facilities…"

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"The report noted the greatest increase in hydroelectric growth is outside the developed countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)…[where it] is expected to be the predominant source of renewable energy growth. This is due to mid- to large-scale hydroelectric plants to be completed in China, India, Brazil, and a number of nations in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Vietnam.

"The report predicted world hydropower generation will increase to 5.6 trillion kWh by 2035 from 3.1 trillion kWh in 2008. Wind generation is expected to increase to 1.4 trillion kWh in 2035 from 210 billion kWh in 2008. Other renewables are expected to increase to 1.1 trillion kWh in 2035 from 331 billion kWh in 2008…Total world net electricity generation is expected to increase 84 percent…Greatest growth is expected in non-OECD countries where a large amount of potential demand remains unsatisfied…"