<Tr> <Td> 4 . </Td> <Td> Guri Dam </Td> <Td> Venezuela </Td> <Td> 07 ° 45 ′ 59" N 62 ° 59 ′ 57" W ﻿ / ﻿ 7.76639 ° N 62.99917 ° W ﻿ / 7.76639; - 62.99917 ﻿ (Guri Dam) </Td> <Td> 10,200 </Td> </Tr> <P> Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale serving a small community or industrial plant . The definition of a small hydro project varies but a generating capacity of up to 10 megawatts (MW) is generally accepted as the upper limit of what can be termed small hydro . This may be stretched to 25 MW and 30 MW in Canada and the United States . Small - scale hydroelectricity production grew by 28% during 2008 from 2005, raising the total world small - hydro capacity to 85 GW . Over 70% of this was in China (65 GW), followed by Japan (3.5 GW), the United States (3 GW), and India (2 GW). </P> <P> Small hydro stations may be connected to conventional electrical distribution networks as a source of low - cost renewable energy . Alternatively, small hydro projects may be built in isolated areas that would be uneconomic to serve from a network, or in areas where there is no national electrical distribution network . Since small hydro projects usually have minimal reservoirs and civil construction work, they are seen as having a relatively low environmental impact compared to large hydro . This decreased environmental impact depends strongly on the balance between stream flow and power production . </P> <P> Micro hydro is a term used for hydroelectric power installations that typically produce up to 100 kW of power . These installations can provide power to an isolated home or small community, or are sometimes connected to electric power networks . There are many of these installations around the world, particularly in developing nations as they can provide an economical source of energy without purchase of fuel . Micro hydro systems complement photovoltaic solar energy systems because in many areas, water flow, and thus available hydro power, is highest in the winter when solar energy is at a minimum . </P>

Where is hydroelectric energy found in the world