Summary - Hydro Power in Asia 2024

Clean dispatchable power, such as hydro power, has been and will continue to be a crucial element in the generation mix of Asian economies. Growing electricity demand and export opportunities are driving hydropower expansion in Asia.
Access to cost-effective electricity, cross-border export opportunities andmultipurpose use of dams are the main factors driving the expansion of reservoirprojects. For instance, Malaysia, which has been exporting energy to Indonesia, is now considering exporting green energy from Sarawak through a hydro dam in Kalimantan to Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara. Meanwhile, Lao PDR and Nepal are developing several projects toexportelectricity to their neighbouring countries.
While hydropower is capable ofoperatingas baseload power, it can also be equipped with reservoirs as storage buffers (pumped-hydro storage), offering flexibility to various renewables by allowing upstream reservoirs to save unused energy for later use. For example, in India, new long-term targets and financial incentives areexpected to unlock a large pipeline of previously stalled pumped hydro storage projects.
Hydropower reservoirs are also a viable option for many Asian players to enhance the stability of the electricity generation system by addressing renewable energy limitations. Recently, EGAT Thailand’s second floating solar hybrid project (which combines hydro power, solar and BESS systems) came online while another 14 are in the pipeline.
However, despite its huge potential, barriers such as complex investment procedures andpower purchase agreements, land acquisition issues and the prevalence of heavily subsidised inexpensive fossil-based fuels for electricity generation have impeded the scale-up of hydro power in the region. A concerted effort among relevant stakeholders can help removethese barriers and scale up the deployment of mature, low-cost hydro power,facilitating a rapid transition to low-carbon economies in the region.

The mission of this conference is to discuss and highlight the opportunities, challenges and outlook for the hydropower segment 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.