Creating successful hydro energy market in Georgia - new-build, refurbishment, upgrade and investment.
As one of the world’s top five countries in per-capita water resources, Georgia is blessed with countless waterways of myriad sizes and types. Yet only 18% of waterways harbouring high electrical-generating capacity have been developed, leaving most of this abundance untapped. Hundreds of Georgia’s 26,000 rivers - with a greenfield-site hydropower plant (HPP) potential of 20 TWh - remain undeveloped.
Traditionally, Georgians have been aware of this rich natural capital – hydrological data have been researched and measured for decades, and provide a unique and reliable basis for planning certainty in the hydropower sector.
The share of hydropower in Georgia’s total electricity generation has been steadily rising in recent years (from 85% in 2004 to 92% in 2011). Since 2006, electricity production from hydropower plants has increased by almost 40%, while thermal power plant production has decreased by 55%. The goal of the Georgian Government in the coming years is to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable resources. To achieve this target, projects are currently underway to construct an additional 40 HPPs designed to deliver a total installed capacity equivalent of 1,878 MW and annually generate 7423gWh.