With 650 GW of projects in the global power pipeline by 2050, hydropower stands to be an asset for the green transition despite falling behind solar and wind, according to a recent report (pdf) by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). Throughout the last decade, hydropower investments have been overshadowed by solar and wind technology despite being the greatest source of renewable energy in terms of installed capacity and electricity production, the report states, adding the potential in clean power generation for developing nations like Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Iraq, and Iran.

A brief history: Hydropower produced 65% of all renewable energy worldwide in 2019, roughly 4.3 PWh (that’s 1 mn GW) of electricity, the report states. Between 2000 and 2021 alone, the installed capacity of conventional hydropower increased by more than 75%, totaling over 1.2k GW. Despite the amount of renewable energy it produced, hydropower only received USD 72 bn in funding between 2013 and 2018.

Funding saw an increase, but there’s still a ways to go: Despite a decline in investments between 2013 and 2016, hydropower saw an uptick in funding in 2017 (USD 26 bn) and 2018 (USD 15 bn) with private capital accounting for only 25% of the total amount. The current installed capacity needs to at least double by 2050 for the world to achieve net zero and comply with the Paris Agreement of keeping temperature increase below 1.5 °C.

Africa is on the right track in terms of generation: In 2021, the continent’s total hydropower capacity was at 34.3 GW — and a supplementary 3.2 GW of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) courtesy of South Africa (86%) and Morocco (14%), according to Irena’s report. As of 2020, Egypt’s hydropower capacity stood at some 15k GWh out of a total capacity of c. 192k GWh — or 7.8% of the country’s energy mix. Morocco’s hydropower capacity stood at some 1.3k GWh in 2020 out of a total capacity of c. 40k GWh — or 3.2% of the energy mix. By 2037, the report states projects in the pipeline are projected to yield an additional 60.8 GW with Ethiopia leading the way with a 25% share. Egypt will provide 49% of the continent’s 4.9 GW of stored power, and South Africa and Morocco will provide the remaining 31% and 20% respectively.

But MENA is not: The region’s installed capacity stood at 14.5 GW in 2021 with Iran contributing 74% — and the prospects of growth are underwhelming. Only 5.3 GW worth of power is expected to come online by 2037 as Iran’s production capacity expands up to 92% of the regional generational capacity.

And water scarcity is the culprit: Conflict between Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran over water distribution has led to severe water shortages and Iraq currently needs USD mns to combat desertification.

Despite challenges, hydropower still has important advantages: With the potential to produce hundreds of GW of clean energy per annum, according to a 2017 study published in the Nature Energy Journal. Hybrid renewables projects — like floating PV panels on water reservoirs — are efficient space-saving options, the study notes, and hydropower can support wind and solar power generation when weather conditions are suboptimal.

But the infrastructure needs a makeover: The aging hydropower infrastructure runs the risk of becoming obsolete and countries will need to modernize existing structures to achieve long-term power generation efficiency, the Irena report states. Funding — particularly from private players and entities — is lagging behind and efforts could be made by all stakeholders to advance swift solutions, along with government support through tax exemptions and concessional grants, the report adds.

And there are looming environmental challenges in the way: Climate concerns and their effect on dwindling global water supplies are presenting a serious threat, as the world’s biggest dams are jammed with sediment which threatens additional global water storage losses. Global water reservoirs may lose storage capacity totalling 1.6 bn cubic meters of water by 2050.