Table 2: Chinese hydro power in perspective 1950-2020

* 2005-2020 capacity data from NDRC and other forecasts. Generation data extrapolated from historical average yield of 3.22 TWh/GW except 2005 forecast
Source: Compiled from Asia Pacific Energy Research Center (APERC), World Energy Council (WEC) and NDRC data

Parameter Capacity GW total cap. share% technical potential share % Generation TWh/yr total gen. share % technical potential share %
Hydro power potential
Gross 1,200 5,920
Technical 380 1,900
Economic 250 1,260
Hydro power development
1950 0.16 n/a 0.04 0.71 n/a 0.04
1980 20.3 30.8 .3 59 19.6 3.1
1990 36.0 26.1 9.5 127 20.4 6.7
2000 79.3 24.8 20.1 222 16.4 11.7
2001 82.7 24.5 21.8 277 18.9 14.6
2002 88.2 25.4 23.2 288 17.6 15.2
2003 92.2 24.0 24.3 283 14.8 14.9
2005* 100 n/a 26.3 356 15.5 18.7
2010 125-150 n/a 33-40 402-483 n/a 21-25
2015 150-170 n/a 40-45 483-547 n/a 25-29
2020 200-270 22-30 53-71 644-870 15-20 34-46