Hydroelectricity in Japan

[1] According to the International Hydropower Association Japan was the world's sixth largest producer of hydroelectricity in 2020.

[2] Conventional hydropower potential of Japan is considered to be almost fully developed, with little opportunity for further capacity increase.

As of 2015, Japan is the country with the highest capacity of pumped-storage hydroelectricity in the world, with 26 GW of power installed.

[4] After the 2011 nuclear power shutdowns, pumped-storage plants have been increasingly used to balance the variable generation of renewable energy sources such as solar, which have been growing rapidly in recent years.

Cost per kilowatt-hour for power from smaller plants was high at ¥15-100, hindering further development of the energy source.