Hydro power is not really a fuel, so much as a form of potential energy. It is, however, an important energy resource in the global economy. About 15% of the world’s electricity is generated from hydro power. It’s estimated that this is only about 27% of the economically exploitable global hydro potential.

Canada
Hydro power makes up the biggest portion of Canada’s installed renewable energy sources. In Canada, 56% of all electricity generated is derived from hydro power (compare that to less than 0.5% from all other renewables). Canada’s many rivers and geographic topography makes it perfectly suited for hydro power. It has about 60,000 MW of installed hydroelectric capacity. Currently, there are plans to develop 8 new plants, for a total of 2,984 MW of additional hydroelectric capacity:

United States
Hydroelectricity accounts for 13% of all electricity generated in the United States. In recent years, hydro power has come under criticism because of its impact on fish populations. In 1999, a number of dams were removed, in order to return some rivers to the natural state. In the future, the number of hydroelectric generating stations (especially those on the coasts) will likely decline.

Mexico
In Mexico, hydroelectricity accounts for 27% of all generated electricity. Mexico has about 10,000 MW of installed hydroelectric capacity. Hydroelectric power is not as reliable in Mexico as in the rest of North America because of regular, and continuing droughts.

Let’s take a look at Solar energy.