Global Hydropower as the Main Driver of Sustainable Development in the Context of Industry 4.0

The article is concerned with study of the possibility of strengthening position of hydropower in global energy balance as the main driver of sustainable development among renewable energy sources in the context of Industry 4.0. The paper considered current situation and policies of countries with large hydropower potential, which make a significant contribution to the world energy community. The study is based on official data provided by international organizations that directly influence trends in development of international relations in the field of energy policy, in particular, regulators in the field of renewable energy sources and hydropower. It also considered global energy trends, taking into account the problem of climate change, the essence of the formation of the global cost of hydropower in accordance with other renewable sources, as well as the participation of international organizations in the field of hydropower and the market situation in this sector. The main trends in the growth of the global hydropower industry are identified within the framework of sustainable development concept, in particular, the international interaction of the main participants in this area and the strategy of liberalization of electric power industry, accompanied by the restructuring of administration management and a change in mechanisms for managing power supply systems. It is determined that in the modern conditions of the global transition to Industry 4.0, the large-scale development of hydropower in individual countries should remain an element of state energy policy. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.