China's hydropower potential unrealized as grid hookups lag

China’s hydropower potential remains underutilized even as its share of the country’s overall energy mix increases relative to other energy sources, Reuters reported, citing Zhang Boting, deputy secretary-general of the China Hydropower Society. “If China fully exploited hydropower, total annual output should be around 2.2 trillion kWh, compared to about 1 trillion KWh now,” Zhang said. Growth in the first four months of this year has been strong for the sector, with hydropower-based electricity generation growing 15.3% compared to 0.2% growth of power generation overall. Yet National Energy Administration data show that dams in Sichuan had to release water that could have generated another 9.8 kWh last year–had only China’s grid been able to absorb it.