As for the composition of power source, the percentage of thermal power was 77.8 % that has increased by 2.1 percentage points; the percentage of hydropower was 20.7 %, which has dropped by 2.0 percentage points, and this was the result of pursuing the improvement of supply capability steadily and fast in a short time under the condition of electric power shortage. The average exploitation level of hydropower in developed countries is above 60%. Among the countries, the percentage of exploited hydroelectric resource is about 82% in the USA, 84% in Japan and 65% in Canada. Comparing with these countries, the hydroelectric development in our country is still at a comparatively low level, and still has great development potential.
At present, the installed generation capacity of hydropower all over the world is about 800 million KW, which meets 20% of the global electricity requirement. The development and utilization of hydro energy resource has made significant contributions for the human civilization and social progress. China is relatively rich in Hydro energy resource, of which the installed generation capacity available for exploitation exceeds 400 million KW, and the annual energy output is more than 1700 billion KWH, so hydro energy resource is an important energy resource in China.
The potential hydropower resource in our country comes first in the world. In accordance with the re-check result of hydropower resource in 2003, the amount of rivers of which the potential hydro energy is above 1,000 KW was 33,886 in our country (mainland).
The theoretical potential hydropower resource was 6080 billion KWH of annual quantity of electricity with an average power of 694 million KW, which makes up about 1/6 of the quantity of electricity all over the world. The 542 million KW of technical development capacity available has made up 78.1% of the average power, and the 2470 billion KWH of annual energy output has made up 40.6 % of theoretical potential quantity of electricity.
Therefore, the development of hydropower industry in our country has a great geographical advantage.
Emphasize on the exploitation of resources in the west part of China. According to the relevant information, the amount of hydropower resource available for development and utilization in our country can reach 37.8 billion KW, which come first in the world. Southwest China is very rich in hydropower resource, and 68% of the total amount of hydropower resource available for exploitation concentrates in this region, of which the ratio of resource developed and used is less than 10% now.
The exploitation of hydropower resource in the southwest may promote the development of the relevant industries of communication, cement, steel product, electromechanical etc. The positive and steady implementation of the plan of "Transport the Electricity from the West to the East" may optimize the power utilization structure in the East and improve the regional ecological environment, while offering the electricity required by the development of the East.
In accordance with the preliminary planning, by the year of 2020, the amount of installed generation capacity of hydropower all over the country will reach 270 million KW, which accounts for 29% of the installed gross capacity of electric power, and the hydroelectric development level will reach 68%. The direct benefit of power generation is equivalent to the saving of 420 million ton of standard coal equivalent.
The reduction is 1.17 billion ton of CO2, 7.5 million ton of sulphur dioxide and other kinds of harmful gas. It will play an important role in the reduction of global air pollution and greenhouse effect and makes great environmental benefit. Hydropower construction may also take account of the comprehensive benefit of flood prevention, irrigation and transportation etc., and at the same time, it also will make the social benefit of the promotion of economic growth and social development, and the poverty alleviation. Therefore, the hydropower industry has a great long-term potential and is favoured by lots of investment institutions.
