, Columnist
Hydro Power Is Facing a Deepening Dry Spell
This is no temporary setback. Climate change is reducing the availability of fresh water and plants are getting less productive.
A veteran clean technology is wearing down.
Source: Bloomberg
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The world’s biggest source of renewable energy has been going through a dry patch.
Generation from solar farms roughly tripled between 2018 and 2023, while the output of wind turbines almost doubled. That provided enough extra clean energy to power Japan and Russia, put together. Meanwhile, the hydroelectric dams that generate about one-seventh of the world’s electricity stood still: The additional 52 terawatt-hours in 2023 was only enough to fuel Greece.