Canada - Electricity production from hydroelectric sources (% of total)

Electricity production from hydroelectric sources (% of total) in Canada was 56.74 as of 2015. Its highest value over the past 55 years was 92.09 in 1960, while its lowest value was 56.52 in 2001.

Definition: Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Hydropower refers to electricity produced by hydroelectric power plants.

Source: IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/

See also:

Year Value
1960 92.09
1961 90.91
1962 87.97
1963 84.18
1964 83.16
1965 80.22
1966 81.22
1967 79.20
1968 75.46
1969 77.08
1970 75.48
1971 73.24
1972 73.80
1973 72.07
1974 74.31
1975 73.07
1976 71.32
1977 68.36
1978 68.61
1979 67.98
1980 67.28
1981 68.13
1982 66.55
1983 65.21
1984 65.47
1985 66.17
1986 66.31
1987 63.72
1988 60.78
1989 58.33
1990 61.56
1991 60.63
1992 60.81
1993 60.81
1994 59.36
1995 59.99
1996 62.08
1997 61.14
1998 59.09
1999 59.72
2000 59.20
2001 56.52
2002 58.31
2003 57.24
2004 56.82
2005 58.32
2006 57.74
2007 58.48
2008 59.74
2009 60.47
2010 58.18
2011 59.04
2012 59.72
2013 58.89
2014 57.25
2015 56.74

Development Relevance: Electrical energy from hydropower is derived from turbines being driven by flowing water in rivers, with or without man-made dams forming reservoirs. Presently, hydropower is the world's largest source of renewable electricity. Hydropower represents the largest share of renewable electricity production. It was second only to wind power for new-built capacities between 2005 and 2010. IEA estimates that hydropower could produce up to 6,000 terawatt-hours in 2050, roughly twice as much as today. Hydropower's storage capacity and fast response characteristics are especially valuable to meet sudden fluctuations in electricity demand and to match supply from less flexible electricity sources and variable renewable sources, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power. Use of energy is important in improving people's standard of living. But electricity generation also can damage the environment. Whether such damage occurs depends largely on how electricity is generated. For example, burning coal releases twice as much carbon dioxide - a major contributor to global warming - as does burning an equivalent amount of natural gas. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions result primarily from fossil fuel combustion and cement manufacturing. In combustion different fossil fuels release different amounts of carbon dioxide for the same level of energy use: oil releases about 50 percent more carbon dioxide than natural gas, and coal releases about twice as much. Nuclear energy does not generate carbon dioxide emissions, but it produces other dangerous waste products.

Limitations and Exceptions: IEA occasionally revises its time series to reflect political changes. For example, the IEA has constructed historical energy statistics for countries of the former Soviet Union. In addition, energy statistics for other countries have undergone continuous changes in coverage or methodology in recent years as more detailed energy accounts have become available. Breaks in series are therefore unavoidable.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Electricity production is total number of kWh generated by power plants separated into electricity plants and CHP plants. The International Energy Agency (IEA) compiles data on energy inputs used to generate electricity. IEA data for countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are based on national energy data adjusted to conform to annual questionnaires completed by OECD member governments. In addition, estimates are sometimes made to complete major aggregates from which key data are missing, and adjustments are made to compensate for differences in definitions. The IEA makes these estimates in consultation with national statistical offices, oil companies, electric utilities, and national energy experts.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Energy production & use