Renewable Energy Technologies: Cost Analysis Series - Hydropower

This, the third installment of the Renewable Energy Technologies Cost Analysis Series, finds that the cost of hydropower is generally quite low but also very site-specific. The report finds that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for hydropower can range from as low as USD 0.01/kWh for upgrading existing facilities to USD 0.27/kWh for small hydropower projects. The LCOE for large hydropower projects lies within this overall range. Although hydropower is a mature renewable energy technology, the report estimates the technical potential of the hydropower resources outweighs current generation by nearly a factor of five.