2025 Outlook for the Hydropower Industry

The hydropower industry is poised for a transformative 2025, building on significant advancements and sector shifts in 2024.

As hydropower strengthens its role in the global renewable energy mix, the upcoming year will be defined by deeper integration with hydrogen technologies, rapid digitalisation, expansion in pumped storage, and reinforced climate resilience.

Here’s what leaders in hydropower can anticipate in 2025, grounded in the year’s pivotal developments.

The push towards digitalisation in 2024 has reshaped hydropower operations, unlocking efficiencies that enhance the sector’s flexibility and sustainability.

Projects like the European Commission’s XFLEX HYDRO are pioneering a suite of technologies – from smart digital controls to hybrid hydro-battery systems – positioning hydropower to meet modern grid demands.

As we look to 2025, these advancements will become more commonplace across the industry. Operators who adopt digital tools, such as AI-based monitoring systems and predictive maintenance algorithms, will benefit from streamlined operations, reduced downtime, and optimised energy output. For hydropower facilities, digital upgrades mean more adaptive, intelligent systems capable of supporting an increasingly dynamic energy landscape.

2024 underscored the critical role of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) in energy stability. As renewable sources like wind and solar grow, so does the demand for large-scale storage solutions that can balance supply and demand. The pumped storage boom will likely escalate in 2025, with projects like the UK’s Coire Glas aiming to double the nation’s storage capacity, setting a benchmark for future endeavours (sse.com).

For the hydropower sector, this presents a twofold opportunity: first, as developers seek to scale up existing facilities, and second, as new PSH projects align with climate targets. In 2025, PSH will be crucial not only as a stabiliser for the grid but also as an economical alternative to battery storage, potentially attracting significant investment from both public and private stakeholders (hydropower.org).

The impacts of climate change have placed resilience at the forefront of hydropower infrastructure planning. In 2024, the Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide became a critical resource, offering frameworks to safeguard facilities against extreme weather, shifting water patterns, and fluctuating seasonal demands (hydropower.org).

As climate risks intensify, 2025 will see hydropower companies increasingly implementing climate-resilient designs and operational strategies. Facilities are expected to adopt more adaptive models, with investments directed toward infrastructure that can withstand environmental stressors. For industry leaders, this will mean balancing operational needs with climate-conscious designs, fostering a future-proof industry that aligns with long-term sustainability goals.

In 2024, the growing synergy between hydropower and hydrogen was bolstered by international policies, investment incentives, and strategic collaborations. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported an increase in national strategies and roadmaps focused on green hydrogen, setting the stage for a robust alignment of hydropower in this area in 2025.

Industry leaders can expect intensified collaboration opportunities with hydrogen developers, facilitated by government support and evolving regulations. The alignment of hydropower with hydrogen production underscores a shared path toward decarbonisation, and 2025 will likely bring even more integrative projects, moving the sector closer to achieving substantial emissions reductions.