A gap in global hydropower capacity could put the global fight against global warming at risk.

That’s one of the findings of a new report by the International Hydropower Association (IHA), which estimates there is a gap of more than 300GW needed to limit global warming.

Both the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency have previously said that around 850GW of new hydropower capacity will be required by 2050 to keep temperatures below 2°C.

However, the IHA estimates that currently, around 500GW of hydropower installations are in the pipeline.

Alex Campbell, Head of Research and Policy at IHA, said: “Our analysis shows that, even if we built all the 500GW of projects in the pipeline, we will still be a long way short of the sustainable hydropower required to keep global warming below 2°C, let alone achieve net zero emissions. Policymakers need to take urgent action now to bridge this gap.”