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Which country ranks highest in hydroelectric power production and utilization?

Lannie Lorentzen

So, I was just browsing and found this interesting question: "Which country ranks highest in hydroelectric power production and utilization?" Now, I don't know about you guys, but I love me some energy statistics. So, here goes.

According to the International Hydropower Association, China is the largest producer and user of hydroelectricity in the world. They currently have an installed capacity of 356 GW, producing around 1.2 billion MWh of electricity in 2020 alone! Wow, talk about being a powerhouse! Pun intended.

Coming in second is Brazil, which generated around 411 TWh of electricity in 2019, with an installed capacity of 102 GW. That's a lot of water flowing through those turbines. Next up is Canada, with 80 GW of installed capacity, producing over 400 TWh of electricity in 2018.

Other countries that made it to the top ten list include the United States, Russia, India, Norway, Japan, Venezuela, and Sweden. It's clear that hydroelectric power is an important part of the energy mix for many nations.

One of the benefits of hydroelectric power is that it doesn't generate greenhouse gases, making it a clean source of energy. Additionally, hydropower plants can be used for load balancing, providing stability to the electricity grid. However, it's important to note that there are also environmental concerns associated with the construction and operation of hydropower plants, such as the impact on fish populations and downstream water flow.

Overall, it's clear that hydroelectric power is a valuable source of energy production for many countries. It will be interesting to see how this industry evolves in the coming years and whether we see an increase in the utilization of alternative forms of renewable energy.