Renewable energy technologies potential contribution to sustainable development: the example of hydro power

Renewable energy technologies offer many advantages for energy supply and sustainable development. Meanwhile, their large scale deployment is often difficult to achieve due to the harsh competition with fossil fuels, both for comfort and ease of use for decision makers and users and for direct cost competitiveness, which often do not take into account the social and environmental costs. So, the example of Hydro Power which is still the main non fossil source for electricity in the world and which continues to develop strong markets is presented here as a success story which could be repeated in the short and medium term by other renewable energy technologies. Moreover, as only a small part of the world hydro technical potential has been tapped, the hydropower contribution to sustainable development will be secured in the future, as well as for large scale projects including new technologies and behaviour to lower potential impacts on local environment and for small hydropower projects well designed for rural electrification in developing countries.