Hydropower output drops to 5-year low globally

The gap left by hydropower was met by fossil generation.

Global hydropower generation hit a five-year low of 4,210 terawatt hours (TWh) due to drought conditions, energy think tank Ember reported.

Ember said that Asia’s hydropower output declined by 5.9% next to North America which saw a 7.4% decline.

Per market, China saw the largest drop of 4.5% or 59 TWh as generators were instructed in the first half of the year to save water for winter to avoid power shortage.

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Hydrogeneration in India and Vietnam fell by 15% and 20%, respectively.

“Clean sources were unable to meet all of the rise in demand, and a record fall in hydropower created a further shortfall, so fossil generation increased to meet the gap. Therefore, total power sector emissions rose to a new record high,” the report read.

Ember said that this scenario led to a 1% increase in global power sector emissions.