Hydroelectricity in Japan

Hydroelectricity is Japan's main renewable energy source, with an installed capacity of about 50 GW (including pumped storage) and a production of 69.2 TWh of electricity in 2009, making Japan one of the biggest hydroelectricity producers in the world.

As of September 2011, Japan had 1,198 small hydropower plants with a total capacity of 3,225 MW. The smaller plants accounted for 6.6% of Japan's total hydropower capacity. The remaining capacity was filled by large and medium hydropower stations, typically sited at large dams. Cost per kilowatt-hour for power from smaller plants was high at ¥15-100, hindering further development of the energy source.