IEA HYDROPOWER IN China

China has abundant hydropower resources and favorable development conditions. By 2025, its hydropower installed capacity has exceeded 450 GW, the largest in the world, with thousands of plants generating 1.45 trillion kWh annually. China’s national energy strategy emphasizes the role of hydropower in the energy transition and carbon neutrality goals. Meanwhile, ecological protection, sustainable operation of cascade reservoirs, and rising demand for energy flexibility and storage pose key challenges for China’s hydropower development.