Hydropower in China is expected to double up to 300,000 megawatts come year 2020. This forecast is according to state media.

China has been developing its sources of renewable energy. This is part of China’s strategy for energy security in the future, according to water resources minister Chen Lei.

China’s installed capacity of hydropower in 2008 was 172,000 megawatts–the largest in the world.

70 percent of China’s energy needs are gathered from highly polluting coal. Hydropower is a move to improve the environment and guarantee the future supply in the country.

Hydropower is also referred to as water power. It is power derived from the energy or force of moving water. This is harnessed and then converted to be used.

People have used hydropower for hundreds of years. In history, water wheels and watermills were used in India. And during the time of Imperial Rome, water-powered mills were used to produce flour from grain, as well as sawing timber and stone.

(via AFP)