Global investment in hydropower is beginning to rebound after falling sharply from its early-2010s peak, according to new investment data from GlobalData covering the period from 2006 through projections to 2030.
Worldwide new investment in hydropower reached its high point in 2013, when annual spending climbed to nearly $60bn, following several years of rapid growth driven by large-scale dam construction and expansion in emerging economies. From 2006 to 2013, global investment rose steadily from roughly $43bn to almost $60bn, reflecting hydropower’s central role in early renewable-energy strategies.
Beginning in 2014, however, investment levels began a prolonged decline. By 2017, annual spending had fallen to around $36bn, and by 2021 it had slipped further to just under $32bn. The downturn coincided with a shift in global renewable investment toward wind and solar, rising environmental scrutiny of large hydropower projects, and the completion of several major dam programs in key markets.
By 2024, global new hydropower investment stood at approximately $29bn, less than half of its 2013 peak and one of the lowest levels recorded in the dataset.
Looking ahead, the data indicates a gradual but sustained recovery in hydropower investment over the remainder of the decade.
Global spending is projected to rise from $27.6bn in 2025 to nearly $32bn by 2027, before accelerating further toward the end of the decade. By 2030, annual new investment is expected to reach approximately $42.4bn, approaching – but still below – levels seen during the sector’s earlier boom.
The projected rebound reflects renewed interest in hydropower’s role as a source of grid stability, long-duration energy storage, and low-carbon baseload power, particularly as power systems integrate higher shares of variable renewable energy.
Note: GlobalData provides hydropower investment data split by country, allowing for detailed analysis of national and regional investment trends over time.
