Summary - Hydro Power in Asia 2025

For many Southeast Asian economies, hydropower is an abundant resource and one of their most important clean energy sources.

The cumulative hydropower capacity in the ASEAN region, including pumped storage, was around 59,516 MW in 2024, according to IRENA. The year 2024 also saw significant growth in hydropower capacity additions in the region, with more than 1.9 GW added in 2024. This was driven by new capacity additions in Indonesia, Vietnam and Lao PDR. With a cost of just $0.046 per kWh across ASEAN, according to estimates, hydro is among the most promising green electricity options for the region.

Trade in hydropower is also providing an additional stream of revenues for exporters. Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia import hydropower from Lao PDR. In June 2022, Singapore initiated a two-year pilot project to import 100 MW of hydropower from Lao PDR via Thailand and Malaysia. All four countries are now exploring ways to enhance this project and facilitate more electricity flows in all directions.

Another trend in the region is the focus on pumped storage projects. While pumped storage hydro contributed to a relatively low share of capacity in the region in 2024, its share is expected to increase with the rapid scaling up of demand for energy storage as the share of electricity generation from wind and solar PV increases.

Pumped storage hydro is a mature and proven technology, which is ideally suited for meeting storage needs. Several countries have announced significant capacity addition plans and policy initiatives that encourage the development of pumped storage solutions.

Investor interest in the segment has been growing. Last year at the COP29 summit, Indonesia received Euro 1.2 billion in funding from Germany’s KfW for financing its clean energy projects, including pumped storage hydropower. Thailand plans to invest nearly $2.6 billion to expand pumped storage hydropower plants at three dams. Recently, in February 2025, Vietnam began building its first 1.2 GW pumped storage hydro plant. The Philippines’ recent green energy auctions saw strong investor response to bids for pumped hydropower.

Overall, hydro is seen as an important source for clean energy in the region, reflecting the fact that there is still significant untapped potential that can be developed to supply low-emissions electricity and flexibility to power systems across the region.

According to the IEA Energy Outlook, the installed hydro capacity is expected to rise from close to 60 GW today to nearly 95-120 GW by 2035 in various scenarios in line with the national energy and climate targets made by governments.

The mission of this conference is to discuss and highlight the opportunities, challenges and outlook for hydropower, including pumped storage, in Asia. It will explore the strategies and solutions being adopted by countries in developing, managing and operating their hydropower assets and transitioning towards net zero commitments. It will also provide a platform to showcase new and promising technologies, best practices in construction and O&M strategies, as well as noteworthy projects in the region.