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List of largest hydroelectric power stations

Three Gorges Dam (left), Gezhouba Dam (right)

This article provides a list of the largest hydroelectric power stations by generating capacity. Only plants with capacity larger than 3,000 MW are listed.

The Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China, has the world's largest instantaneous generating capacity at 22,500 MW of power. In second place is the Baihetan Dam, also in China, with a capacity of 16,000 MW. The Itaipu Dam in Paraguay and Brazil is the third largest with 14,000 MW of power. Despite the large difference in installed capacity between Three Gorges Dam and Itaipu Dam, they generate nearly equal amounts of electrical energy during the course of an entire year – Itaipu 103 terawatt-hours (370 PJ) in 2016[1] and Three Gorges 111.8 TWh (402 PJ) in 2020,[2] because the Three Gorges experiences six months per year when there is very little water available to generate power, while the Paraná River continuously feeds the Itaipu with an ample supply of water year-round.

Energy output of the Three Gorges reaches 125 TWh (450 PJ) in years of high feed availability. The Three Gorges (22,500 MW - 32 × 700 MW and 2 × 50 MW) is operated jointly with the much smaller Gezhouba Dam (2,715 MW). The total generating capacity of this two-dam complex is 25,215 MW. The Itaipu on the Brazil–Paraguay border has 20 generator units with overall 14,000 MW of installed capacity. However, the maximum number of generating units allowed to operate simultaneously cannot exceed 18 (12,600 MW).

The Jinsha River (the upper stream of Yangtze River) complex is the largest hydroelectric generating system currently under construction. It has three phases. Phase one includes four dams on the downstream of the Jinsha River. They are Wudongde Dam, Baihetan Dam, Xiluodu Dam, and Xiangjiaba Dam, with generating capacity of 10,200 MW, 16,000 MW, 13,860 MW, and 7,798 MW respectively. Phase two includes eight dams on the middle stream of the Jinsha River. The total generating capacity is 21,150 MW. Phase three includes eight dams on the upper stream of the Jinsha River. The total generating capacity is 8,980 MW. The total combined capacity of the Jinsha complex with the Three Gorges complex will be 103,203 MW.

As of 2025, plans exist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the construction of a hydroelectric power station set to overtake the Three Gorges,[3] with an installed capacity of 39,000 MW.[4][5] The Project is called Grand Inga and is planned to be realised on the lower Congo River.[6] As of 2014, China is working on a 50,000 MW[7] dam as part of the Yarlung Tsangpo Hydroelectric and Water Diversion Project. Another proposal, Penzhin Tidal Power Plant, presumes an installed capacity up to 87,100 MW.

The largest hydroelectric power stations top the list of the largest power stations of any kind, are among the largest hydraulic structures and are some of the largest artificial structures in the world.

List

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Completed

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Only operational power stations with an installed capacity of at least 3,000 MW. Some of these may have additional units under construction, but only current installed capacity is listed.

Name Country Location River Installed
capacity
 		Annual
production
[note 1] 		Area flooded Reservoir volume[8] Years of completion
Three Gorges Dam  China 30°49′15″N 111°00′08″E / 30.82083°N 111.00222°E / 30.82083; 111.00222 (Three Gorges Dam) Yangtze 22,500 MW 111.8 terawatt-hours (402 PJ)[9] 1,084 km2 39.3 km3 2008/2012
Baihetan Dam  China 27°13′23″N 102°54′11″E / 27.22306°N 102.90306°E / 27.22306; 102.90306 (Three Gorges Dam) Jinsha 16,000 MW 60.24 TWh (216.9 PJ) 20.62 km3[10][11] 2022[12]
Itaipu Dam  Paraguay
 Brazil 		25°24′31″S 54°35′21″W / 25.40861°S 54.58917°W / -25.40861; -54.58917 (Itaipu Dam) Paraná 14,000 MW 103 TWh (370 PJ)[1] 1,350 km2 29 km3 1984/1991, 2003[note 2]
Xiluodu  China 28°15′52″N 103°38′47″E / 28.26444°N 103.64639°E / 28.26444; 103.64639 (Xiluodu Dam) Jinsha 13,860 MW[13] 55.2 TWh (199 PJ) 108 km2 12.67 km3 2014[14]
Belo Monte  Brazil 03°07′27″S 51°42′01″W / 3.12417°S 51.70028°W / -3.12417; -51.70028 (Belo Monte Dam) Xingu 11,233 MW[15] 39.5 TWh (142 PJ) 441 km2 1.89 km3 2016/2019
Guri  Venezuela 07°46′00″N 63°00′00″W / 7.76667°N 63.00000°W / 7.76667; -63.00000 (Guri Dam) Caroní 10,235 MW 53.41 TWh (192.3 PJ) 4,250 km2 135 km3 1978, 1986
Wudongde  China 26°19′29.4″N 102°38′2.2″E / 26.324833°N 102.633944°E / 26.324833; 102.633944 Jinsha 10,200 MW 38.91 TWh (140.1 PJ) 7.4 km3 2020/2021[16]
Tucuruí  Brazil 03°49′54″S 49°38′48″W / 3.83167°S 49.64667°W / -3.83167; -49.64667 (Tucurui Dam) Tocantins 8,370 MW 41.43 TWh (149.1 PJ) 3,014 km2 45 km3 1984, 2007
Xiangjiaba  China 28°38′57″N 104°22′14″E / 28.64917°N 104.37056°E / 28.64917; 104.37056 (Xiangjiaba Dam) Jinsha 7,798 MW 30.88 TWh (111.2 PJ)[17] 95.6 km2 5.16 km3 2014[18][19]
Grand Coulee  United States 47°57′24″N 118°59′00″W / 47.95667°N 118.98333°W / 47.95667; -118.98333 (Grand Coulee Dam) Columbia 6,809 MW 20.24 TWh (72.9 PJ)[20] 324 km2 12 km3 1942/1950, 1973, 1975/1980, 1983/1984, 1991[note 3]
Longtan Dam  China 25°01′38″N 107°02′51″E / 25.02722°N 107.04750°E / 25.02722; 107.04750 (Longtan Dam) Hongshui 6,426 MW 18.7 TWh (67 PJ)[21] 27.27 km3 2007/2009
Sayano-Shushenskaya  Russia 52°49′31″N 91°22′15″E / 52.82528°N 91.37083°E / 52.82528; 91.37083 (Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam) Yenisei 6,400 MW 29.4 TWh (106 PJ)[22] 621 km2 31.3 km3 1985/1989, 2010/2014[note 4]
Krasnoyarsk  Russia 55°56′05″N 92°17′40″E / 55.93472°N 92.29444°E / 55.93472; 92.29444 (Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam) Yenisei 6,000 MW 18.35 TWh (66.1 PJ) 2,000 km2 73.3 km3 1967/1972
Nuozhadu  China 22°33′51″N 100°30′46″E / 22.56417°N 100.51278°E / 22.56417; 100.51278 (Nuozhadu Dam) Mekong 5,850 MW 23.9 TWh (86 PJ)[23] 320 km2 21.75 km3 2014[24]
Robert-Bourassa  Canada 53°47′43″N 77°26′26″W / 53.79528°N 77.44056°W / 53.79528; -77.44056 (Robert-Bourassa GS) La Grande 5,616 MW[note 5][25] 31 TWh (110 PJ) 2,835 km2 61.7 km3 1979/1981
Churchill Falls  Canada 53°31′46″N 63°58′05″W / 53.52944°N 63.96806°W / 53.52944; -63.96806 (Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Power Station) Churchill 5,428 MW[26] 35 TWh (130 PJ) 6,988 km2 32.64 km3 1971/1974
Tarbela Dam  Pakistan 34°05′23″N 72°41′54″E / 34.08972°N 72.69833°E / 34.08972; 72.69833 (Tarbela Dam) Indus 4,888 MW[27] 17.39 TWh (62.6 PJ) 260 km2 13.7 km3 1976, 1992, 2018
Jinping-II  China 28°14′20″N 101°38′32″E / 28.23889°N 101.64222°E / 28.23889; 101.64222 (Jinping-II Hydropower Station) Yalong 4,800 MW 24.23 TWh (87.2 PJ) 0.010 km3 2014
Bratsk  Russia 56°17′10″N 101°47′10″E / 56.28611°N 101.78611°E / 56.28611; 101.78611 (Bratsk Dam) Angara 4,515 MW 22.6 TWh (81 PJ) 5,470 km2 169.27 km3 1961/1966
Paulo Afonso  Brazil 09°23′49″S 38°12′08″W / 9.39694°S 38.20222°W / -9.39694; -38.20222 (Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Complex) São Francisco 4,279.6 MW 117 km2 1.4 km3 1954/1974, 1979/1983
Laxiwa Dam  China 36°04′13″N 101°11′08″E / 36.07028°N 101.18556°E / 36.07028; 101.18556 (Laxiwa Dam) Yellow 4,200 MW[28] 10.23 TWh (36.8 PJ) 1.08 km3 2010
Xiaowan Dam  China 24°42′19″N 100°05′32″E / 24.70528°N 100.09222°E / 24.70528; 100.09222 (Xiaowan Dam) Mekong 4,200 MW[29] 19 TWh (68 PJ) 190 km2 15 km3 2010
Ust Ilimskaya  Russia 57°58′06″N 102°41′45″E / 57.96833°N 102.69583°E / 57.96833; 102.69583 (Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Station) Angara 3,840 MW 21.7 TWh (78 PJ) 1,873 km2 59.4 km3 1980
Jirau  Brazil 09°15′0″S 64°24′0″W / 9.25000°S 64.40000°W / -9.25000; -64.40000 (Jirau Dam) Madeira 3,750 MW 19.1 TWh (69 PJ) 258 km2 2014/2016
Jinping-I  China 28°11′07″N 101°37′42″E / 28.18528°N 101.62833°E / 28.18528; 101.62833 (Jinping-I Hydropower Station) Yalong 3,600 MW 17 TWh (61 PJ) 82.5 km2 7.76 km3 2014
Fengning PSP Station  China 41°41′03″N 116°33′12″E / 41.68417°N 116.55333°E / 41.68417; 116.55333 (Fengning PS Hydro Power Station) 3,600 MW 3.4 TWh (12 PJ) 0.070 km3 2019/2021
Santo Antonio  Brazil 08°48′06″S 63°57′03″W / 8.80167°S 63.95083°W / -8.80167; -63.95083 (Santo Antonio Dam) Madeira 3,580 MW[30] 21.2 TWh (76 PJ) 490 km2 2012/2016
Ilha Solteira Dam  Brazil 20°22′58″S 51°21′44″W / 20.38278°S 51.36222°W / -20.38278; -51.36222 (Ilha Solteira Dam) Paraná 3,444 MW 17.9 TWh (64 PJ) 1,195 km2 21.2 km3 1973
Ertan Dam  China 26°49′16″N 101°46′52″E / 26.82111°N 101.78111°E / 26.82111; 101.78111 (Ertan Dam) Yalong 3,300 MW 17 TWh (61 PJ) 101 km2 5.8 km3 1999
Pubugou Dam  China 29°12′34″N 102°50′11″E / 29.20944°N 102.83639°E / 29.20944; 102.83639 (Pubugou Dam) Dadu 3,300 MW 14.6 TWh (53 PJ) 5.39 km3 2009/2010
Macagua  Venezuela 8°18′14″N 62°40′04″W / 8.30389°N 62.66778°W / 8.30389; -62.66778 (Macagua II) Caroní 3,167.5 MW 15.2 TWh (55 PJ) 47.4 km2 0.36 km3 1961, 1996
Xingó  Brazil 9°37′14″S 37°47′34″W / 9.62056°S 37.79278°W / -9.62056; -37.79278 (Xingó Hydroelectrical Power Plant) São Francisco 3,162 MW 18.7 TWh (67 PJ)[31] 60 km2 3.8 km3 1994/1997
Yacyretá  Argentina
 Paraguay 		27°28′58″S 56°43′30″W / 27.48278°S 56.72500°W / -27.48278; -56.72500 (Yacyreta Dam) Paraná 3,100 MW 20.09 TWh (72.3 PJ) 1,695 km2 21 km3 1994/1998, 2011
Nurek Dam  Tajikistan 38°22′00″N 69°21′00″E / 38.36667°N 69.35000°E / 38.36667; 69.35000 (Nurek Dam) Vakhsh 3,015 MW 11.2 TWh (40 PJ) 98 km2 10.5 km3 1972/1979, 1988
Bath County PSP  United States 38°12′32″N 79°48′00″W / 38.20889°N 79.80000°W / 38.20889; -79.80000 (Bath County Pumped Storage Station) 3,003 MW[32] 3.32 TWh (12.0 PJ) 3.3 km2 0.030 km3 1985, 2005/2009
Goupitan Dam  China 27°22′31″N 107°37′59″E / 27.37528°N 107.63306°E / 27.37528; 107.63306 (Goupitan Dam) Wu 3,000 MW[33] 9.67 TWh (34.8 PJ) 94 km2 6.45 km3 2009/2011
Guanyinyan Dam  China 26°31′17″N 101°26′16″E / 26.52139°N 101.43778°E / 26.52139; 101.43778 (Guanyinyan Dam) Jinsha 3,000 MW 13.62 TWh (49.0 PJ) 2.07 km3 2014/2016
Lianghekou  China 30°09′46″N 101°00′49″E / 30.16278°N 101.01361°E / 30.16278; 101.01361 (Lianghekou Dam) Yalong 3,000 MW 11 TWh (40 PJ) 10.77 km3 2021/2022[34]

Under construction

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This table lists stations under construction with an expected installed capacity at least 3,000 MW.

Name Country Location River Expected
capacity (MW) 		Expected
completion
TaSang  Myanmar 20°27′23″N 98°39′0″E / 20.45639°N 98.65000°E / 20.45639; 98.65000 Salween 7,110 ?? (on hold)
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance  Ethiopia 11°12′51″N 35°05′35″E / 11.21417°N 35.09306°E / 11.21417; 35.09306 (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) Blue Nile 5,150[note 6] 2022-?[35][36]
Diamer-Bhasha  Pakistan 35°31′08″N 73°47′10″E / 35.51889°N 73.78611°E / 35.51889; 73.78611 (Diamer-Bhasha Dam) Indus River 4,500 2029[37]
Dasu  Pakistan 35°31′10″N 73°44′21″E / 35.51944°N 73.73917°E / 35.51944; 73.73917 (Dasu Dam) Indus River 4,320 2026
Rogun  Tajikistan 38°41′03″N 69°46′26″E / 38.68417°N 69.77389°E / 38.68417; 69.77389 (Rogun Dam) Vakhsh 3,600[38][note 7] 2018[39]-2029
Myitsone  Myanmar 25°41′23″N 97°31′04″E / 25.68972°N 97.51778°E / 25.68972; 97.51778 Irrawaddy 3,600 ?? (on hold)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Generating capacity is not the only factor determining the amount of electricity generated, as this also depends on consistent utilization of the plant's capacity. Factors enhancing this are the free capacity of the reservoir and the consistency of water supply during and across years.
  2. ^ First unit installed in 1984, 18th in 1991; in 2003, 2 additional units were installed.
  3. ^ First unit installed in 1942, 18th in 1950, 21st in 1991; 6 units in third powerplant were installed between 1975 and 1980, 2 units of pumped-storage plant were installed in 1973, 4 more units in 1983 and 1984.
  4. ^ 10 units were installed between 1985 and 1989; after the 2009 failure, new units were installed between 2010 and 2014.
  5. ^ Combined with adjacent La Grande-2-A the LG-2 complex has 7,722 MW of installed capacity
  6. ^ 750 MW commissioned as of August 2022
  7. ^ 760 MW commissioned as of October 2021

References

[edit]
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