The amount of the global generating capacity for hydroelectric and other renewable energies will rise 2.7 percent per year through 2035, more than any other electricity generating sources, according to a report released Wednesday.
The installed hydroelectric power capacity is expected to increase more than other renewable sources between 2008 and 2035, said the report issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
However, the world is projected to see its installed solar power capacity enjoy the largest growth rate over the period, expanding 8.3 percent per year, followed by 5.7 percent for wind, 3.7 percent for geothermal, 2 percent for hydropower, and 1.4 percent for other renewables such as wood waste, landfill gas, and agricultural byproducts, the report said.
Long-term annual growth rates for the global installed generating capacity will be 2 percent for nuclear, 1.6 percent for natural gas-fired power plants, and 1.3 percent for coal.
The report also estimates that the installed capacity of power plants running on petroleum products will fall by one percent a year, as higher oil costs and climate change concerns encourage a switch to cheaper and cleaner generating fuels.