Facing facts on North American hydro

11 August 2011



Two recently published reports provide a detailed insight into US and Canadian hydropower industry development


Hydropower has been a key renewable source of energy in the US, accounting for 61.58% of the total power generated from all renewable sources in 2009. It also dominated the US’ total installed capacity for renewable power with a share of nearly 66.32% in the same year. Meanwhile hydro’s cumulative installed capacity had reached 101,355MW in 2009 from 95,844MW in 2001. By 2020, hydro generation capacity is expected to reach 112,403MW.

With government focus on other renewables and increasing installations of wind, solar and bio-energy facilities across the country, hydro’s share in renewable power generation capacity is likely to decline. This is expected to fall to 27.73% by 2020 from 66.32% in 2009. Furthermore hydro’s share of total renewable energy sources is expected to decline to nearly 22.80% by 2020.

The US hydro power market witnessed numerous deals during the period 2004-2009. The country’s hydro deal value increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 47% and the deal volume increased at a CAGR of 50%. As the development of the country’s hydro sector regains momentum, various kinds of deals are expected in the future too.

In Canada, hydro power also dominates installed capacity of renewable power with a share of nearly 93% in 2009. Hydro power’s cumulative installed capacity had reached 77,980MW in 2009, up from 67,059MW in 2001 at a CAGR of 1.9%.

Hydro power generation reached 380,542GWh in 2009 from 329,887GWh in 2001. Power generation is projected to reach 496,106GWh by 2020 at a CAGR of 2.4% during the period.

While hydro generation capacity is expected to reach 96,273MW at a CAGR of 1.9% from 2009. Again the share of hydro in renewable power generation capacity is likely to decline to 76.64% by 2020.

During the period 2004-2009, Canada’s hydro deal value increased at a CAGR of 94% and the deal volume increased at a CAGR of 53%.

Global analysis

Published in September 2010, GlobalData’s latest renewable energy reports, Hydro Power Market Outlook in US to 2020 – Capacity, Generation, Regulations, Key Power Plants and Key Companies and Hydro Power Market Outlook in Canada to 2020 – Capacity, Generation, Regulations, Key Power Plants and Key Companies gives a view of the US and Canadian hydro energy market and provides forecasts to 2020. It also includes information on:

• Hydro installed capacity and generation.

• Key trends.

• Profiles of major industry participants.

• Information on major hydro power plants.

• Analysis of important deals.

Along with detailed information on the regulatory framework and key policies governing the industry, the report provides a comprehensive understanding of the market for hydropower in the countries.

The reports were compiled from data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.


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