According to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service (www.worldwatch.org) both types of energy saw slower growth.Following are some findings.

• Interestingly, although hydropower plays the least important role in the Middle East, the region experienced the greatest growth in hydroelectricity consumption in 2011, at almost 22 percent. North America was next, with an increase slightly under 14 percent. In contrast, usage fell by almost 9 percent in Europe and Eurasia and by 0.6 percent in the Asia Pacific region.

• Some 150 countries produce hydropower, half of the global capacity was concentrated in just five nations at the end of 2011. China remains the leader, with 212 GW installed, followed by Brazil (82.2 GW), the United States (79 GW), Canada (76.4 GW), and Russia (46 GW).
• Despite the potential for inexpensive, low-emission electricity from hydropower, large projects can bring significant negative consequences. The damming of rivers to create the reservoirs needed for large-scale power generation is severely disruptive to ecosystems and can harm both animal and human populations.
• Often hydropower projects have led to the displacement of local populations and the adverse altering of downstream conditions.
• Like hydropower, geothermal resources are highly location-specific. Many countries with strong hydropower potential, including much of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia, have equally impressive geothermal potential.
• Global consumption of hydropower continued to increase in 2011, reaching 3,498 terawatt-hours.
• A total of 25 GW of new hydropower capacity was added in 2011, less than in previous years, with China, Vietnam, Brazil, India, and Canada responsible for 75 percent of the added capacity.
• Some 136 MW of new geothermal power capacity was installed in 2011, the vast majority of which came from two major projects: a 90 MW facility in Iceland and a 42 MW plant in Costa Rica.
• The United States continues to be a leader in geothermal capacity, with 3.1 GW, and is followed by the Philippines (1.9 GW), Indonesia (1.2 GW), Mexico (1 GW), and Italy (0.8 GW).

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• Global hydropower and geothermal growth slow (nanowerk.com)
• Geothermal Energy, Along With Hydro, Slowing In Growth (earthtechling.com)
• Ethiopia looks to realise its geothermal energy potential (guardian.co.uk)
• Indian state of West Bengal to push hydropower generation (hydro.energy-business-review.com)
• Hydropower 2012 Year in Review: Development Around the Globe (renewableenergyworld.com)