Global hydropower construction valued at nearly $475 Billion

The global hydropower construction pipeline has reached $474.7 billion, according to IWP&DC’s parent company GlobalData PLC’s Project Insight – Global Power Generation Construction Projects Q2 2025. Together, these projects are expected to add 253.8GW of new capacity to electricity systems worldwide.

According to the report, Asia-Pacific dominates hydro development with $254.9 billion in projects. Sub-Saharan Africa follows with $106.2 billion, highlighting the region’s focus on major river-based developments. South America has projects valued at $82.1 billion, while North America accounts for $20.5 billion. In the Middle East and North Africa, hydropower projects total $10.6 billion.

Of the global total, $274.4 billion worth of projects are already under construction. The remainder are in planning, pre-planning, or pre-execution stages, representing long-term commitments to expanding clean power capacity.

Major global developments

• Grand Inga Hydroelectric Power Plant, Democratic Republic of Congo – $80 billion, 42GW capacity.

• Jinsha River Hydropower Complex, China – $45.8 billion, 37.8GW capacity.

• Patagonia Hydroelectric Complex, Chile – $10 billion, 2.75GW capacity.

• Chukha Hydropower Plant Expansion, Bhutan – $6 billion, 2.64GW capacity.

• Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant Expansion, Brazil – $5.5 billion, 3.8GW capacity.

Top regional hydropower projects

North America

• Site C Clean Energy Project (Canada) – $12.7 billion, 1.1GW capacity.

• Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Plant (Canada) – $9.6 billion, 3.07GW capacity.

South America

• Tapajós Hydropower Complex (Brazil) – $16 billion, 11GW capacity.

• Patagonia Hydroelectric Complex (Chile) – $10 billion, 2.75GW capacity.

• Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant Expansion (Brazil) – $5.5 billion, 3.8GW capacity.

Sub-Saharan Africa

• Grand Inga Hydroelectric Plant (DRC) – $80 billion, 42GW capacity.

• Inga III Basse Chute Project (DRC) – $18 billion, 4.8GW capacity.

• Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Plant (Zambia/Zimbabwe) – $5 billion, 2.4GW capacity.

• Rufiji Hydropower Plant (Tanzania) – $2.9 billion, 2.1GW capacity.

Asia-Pacific

• Jinsha River Hydropower Complex (China) – $45.8 billion, 37.8GW capacity.

• Mamberamo Hydro Power Plant (Indonesia) – $35 billion, 24GW capacity.

• Kayan River Hydroelectric Plant (Indonesia) – $17.8 billion, 9GW capacity.

• Chukha Hydropower Expansion (Bhutan) – $6 billion, 2.64GW capacity.

Globally, hydropower accounts for 14% of the power generation construction pipeline by value, estimated at $1.16 trillion when including all projects under planning and construction. This places it behind wind at 40% ($3.29 trillion) and solar at 16% ($1.25 trillion). In terms of capacity, hydropower projects are expected to deliver 825.7GW worldwide, compared with 1,736GW for wind and 1,252GW for solar.