Majid Jafar
December 22, 2025
Droughts are reducing China’s hydropower generation
They’re impacting river flows in China’s southwest. In 2023, the country’s total hydropower output was 1,141 terawatt-hours (TWh) down from 1,202 TWh in 2022 and 1,184 TWh in 2021. This is despite China's hydropower capacity increasing 7.8% over the same period.
Despite an increase in hydropower capacity, China's hydropower generation is facing a decline due to severe droughts.
The droughts are particularly affecting river flows in southwest China, a key region for hydropower generation. This has resulted in a decrease in the amount of water available to drive turbines and produce electricity.
This decline in hydropower output is happening even though China's hydropower capacity has increased by 7.8% over the same period. This highlights the severity of the droughts and their impact on hydropower generation.
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