When the subject of renewable energy comes up, one often thinks of wind, solar or geothermal energy. Yet the largest source of renewable energy comes from hydropower. Hydropower is renewable because it draws its essential energy from the sun, which drives the hydrological cycle, which in turn provides a continuous renewable supply of water. More than 92 per cent of all generated renewable energy comes from hydropower. It may, in fact, prove to be one of the most practical sources of energy in the future.
For more than a century, Norway has exploited its hydropower resources. There are currently 850 hydropower plants on Norwegian soil producing almost 100% of the country’s electricity. In countries with a developed hydropower industry, the current focus is on the cost-effective use of hydro installations in mixed and deregulated systems. The emphasis is on the added value of hydroelectricity as an environmentally friendly energy source.
Norway, with its history of extensive hydropower development and nearly two decades of experience of a competitive electricity market, provides an excellent venue for international gatherings on hydropower.
The world's largest water power resources are in:
- Norway
- Canada
- China
- CES
- Columbia
- Ecuador
- Brazil
- Peru
- The Democratic Republic of Congo
- India
- Indonesia