List of largest hydroelectric power stations
This article provides a list of the largest hydroelectric power stations by generating capacity. Only plants with capacity larger than 2,000 MW are listed.
The Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China, has the world's largest instantaneous generating capacity (22,500 MW), with the Itaipu Dam in Brazil/Paraguay in second place (14,000 MW). Despite large differences in installed capacity of these two power stations, during the course of an entire year they generate equal amounts of electrical energy - Itaipu 98.2 TWh in 2012[1] and Three Gorges 98.1 TWh in 2012,[2] because the Three Gorges experiences six months per year when there is very little water available to generate power, while the Paraná River that feeds the Itaipu has a much lower seasonal variance in flow. Power output of the Three Gorges reaches 125 TWh 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, 13,050 MW, 13,860 MW, and 6,400 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 97,355 MW.
Preliminary plans exist for the construction of the next largest hydroelectric power station with an installed capacity of 39,000 MW.[3] The Project is called Grand Inga and is planned to be realised on the lower Congo River.[4]
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.
Largest power stations
This table lists currently operational power stations with an installed capacity of at least 2,000 MW. Some of these may have additional units under construction, but only current installed capacity is listed.
Rank | Name | Country | River | Installed capacity (MW) | Annual electricity production (TW-hour)[5] | Years of completion | Area flooded (km²) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Three Gorges Dam | China | Yangtze | 22,500 | 98.8[6] | 2008 | 1,084 |
2 | Itaipu Dam | Brazil Paraguay |
Paraná | 14,000 | 98.6[1] | 1984/1991, 2003[7] | 1,350 |
3 | Xiluodu | China | Jinsha | 13,860[8] | 55.2 | 2014[9] | |
4 | Guri | Venezuela | Caroní | 10,235 | 53.41 | 1978, 1986 | 4,250 |
5 | Tucuruí | Brazil | Tocantins | 8,370 | 41.43 | 1984 | 3,014 |
6 | Grand Coulee | United States | Columbia | 6,809 | 20[10] | 1942/1950, 1973, 1975/1980, 1984/1985[11] | 324 |
7 | Xiangjiaba | China | Jinsha | 6,448 | 30.7 | 2014[12] | 95.6 |
8 | Longtan Dam | China | Hongshui | 6,426 | 18.7[13] | 2007/2009 | |
9 | Sayano–Shushenskaya | Russia | Yenisei | 6,400 | 26.8 | 1985/1989, 2010/2014[14] | 621 |
10 | Krasnoyarsk | Russia | Yenisei | 6,000 | 15 | 1972 | 2,000 |
11 | Nuozhadu | China | Mekong | 5,850 | 2014[15] | 320 | |
12 | Robert-Bourassa | Canada | La Grande | 5,616[16][17] | 26.5 | 1979/1981 | 2,835 |
13 | Churchill Falls | Canada | Churchill | 5,428[18] | 35 | 1971/1974 | 6,988 |
14 | Jinping-II | China | Yalong | 4,800 | 2014 | ||
15 | Bratsk | Russia | Angara | 4,500 | 22.6 | 1967 | 5,470 |
16 | Laxiwa Dam | China | Yellow | 4,200[19] | 10.2 | 2010 | |
17 | Xiaowan Dam | China | Mekong | 4,200[20] | 19 | 2010 | 190 |
18 | Ust Ilimskaya | Russia | Angara | 3,840 | 21.7 | 1980 | |
19 | Jinping-I | China | Yalong | 3,600 | 17 | 2014 | 82.5 |
20 | Tarbela Dam | Pakistan | Indus | 3,478 | 13 | 1976 | 250 |
21 | Ilha Solteira Dam | Brazil | Paraná | 3,444 | 17.9 | 1973 | 1,195 |
22 | Ertan Dam | China | Yalong | 3,300 | 17 | 1999 | 101 |
23 | Pubugou Dam | China | Dadu | 3,300 | 14.6 | 2009/2010 | |
24 | Macagua | Venezuela | Caroní | 3,167.5 | 15.2 | 1961/1996 | 47.4 |
25 | Xingó Hydroelectrical Power Plant | Brazil | São Francisco | 3,162 | 18.7[21] | 1994/1997 | |
26 | Yacyretá | Argentina Paraguay |
Paraná | 3,100 | 20.09 | 1994/1998, 2011 | 1,600 |
27 | Nurek Dam | Tajikistan | Vakhsh | 3,015 | 11.2 | 1972/1979, 1988 | 98 |
28 | Bath County PSP | United States | - | 3,003 | 3.32 | 1985, 2004 | |
29 | Goupitan Dam | China | Wu | 3,000[22] | 9.67 | 2009/2011 | 94 |
30 | Guanyinyan Dam | China | Jinsha | 3,000 | 13.62 | 2014/2016 | |
31 | Boguchany Dam | Russia | Angara | 2,997 | 17.6 | 2012/2014 | 2,326 |
32 | W. A. C. Bennett Dam | Canada | Peace | 2,876 | 13.1 | 1968, 2012 | |
33 | La Grande-4 | Canada | La Grande | 2,779[17] | 1986 | 765 | |
34 | Gezhouba Dam | China | Yangtze | 2,715 | 17.01 | 1988 | |
35 | Manic-5 and Manic-5-PA | Canada | Manicouagan | 2,656[23] | 1970/1971, 1989/1990 | 1,950 | |
36 | Volzhskaya (Volgogradskaya) | Russia | Volga | 2,639.5 | 12.84[24] | 1961 | |
37 | Chief Joseph Dam | United States | Columbia | 2,620 | 12.5 | 1958/1973/1979 | 34 |
38 | Niagara Falls (US) | United States | Niagara | 2,525 [25] | 1961 | ||
39 | Santo Antonio | Brazil | Madeira | 2,498.5[26][27] | 2012/2016 | 271 | |
40 | Revelstoke Dam | Canada | Columbia | 2,480 | 1984, 2011 | 115 | |
41 | Paulo Afonso IV | Brazil | São Francisco | 2,462.4[28] | 1979/1983 | ||
42 | Chicoasén (Manuel M. Torres) Dam | Mexico | Grijalva | 2,430 | 1980, 2005 | ||
43 | La Grande-3 | Canada | La Grande | 2,418[17] | 1984 | ||
44 | Atatürk Dam | Turkey | Euphrates | 2,400 | 8.9 | 1990 | |
45 | Jinanqiao Dam | China | Jinsha | 2,400 | 2010 | ||
46 | Sơn La Dam | Vietnam | Black | 2,400 | 10.25 | 2010/2012 | |
47 | Bakun Dam | Malaysia | Balui | 2,400 | 2011 | ||
48 | Liyuan Dam | China | Jinsha | 2,400 | 2014/2015 | ||
49 | Guandi Dam | China | Yalong | 2,400 | 2013 | ||
50 | Zhiguliovskaya (Samarskaya) | Russia | Volga | 2,383 | 11.7[24] | 1957 | |
51 | Karun III Dam | Iran | Karun | 2,280 | 4.17 | 2005 | |
52 | Iron Gates-I | Romania Serbia |
Danube | 2,254.8 | 11.3 | 1970 | |
53 | John Day Dam | United States | Columbia | 2,160 | 1949 | ||
54 | Caruachi | Venezuela | Caroní | 2,160 | 12.95 | 2006 | |
55 | Ludila | China | Jinsha | 2,160 | 2014 [29] | ||
56 | La Grande-2-A | Canada | La Grande | 2,106[17][30] | 1992 | ||
57 | Aswan | Egypt | Nile | 2,100 | 11 | 1970 | |
58 | Itumbiara | Brazil | Paranaíba | 2,082 | 1980 | ||
59 | Hoover Dam | United States | Colorado | 2,080 | 4 | 1936/1939, 1961 | |
60 | Cahora Bassa | Mozambique | Zambezi | 2,075 | 1975/1977 | ||
61 | Cleuson-Dixence Complex | Switzerland | - | 2,069 | 4.51 | 1965, 1998 | |
62 | Bureya Dam | Russia | Bureya | 2,010 | 6.59[24] | 2003/2009 | |
63 | Lijiaxia Dam | China | Yellow | 2,000 | 1997/2000 | ||
64 | Karun I (Shahid Abbaspour) Dam | Iran | Karun | 2,000 | 1976, 1995, 2006 | ||
65 | Masjed Soleyman Dam | Iran | Karun | 2,000 | 3.7 | 2002/2007 | |
66 | Ahai Dam | China | Jinsha | 2,000 | 2014[31] |
Under construction
This table lists stations under construction with expected installed capacity at least 2,000 MW.
Name | Country | River | Expected capacity (MW) | Expected completion | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baihetan | China | Jinsha | 16,000[32] | 2021 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Belo Monte | Brazil | Xingu | 11,233 | 2019 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Changheba | China | Dadu | 2,600 | 2016 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Dagangshan | China | Dadu | 2,600 | 2016 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Dasu Dam | Pakistan | Indus River | 4,320 | 2019 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Diamer-Bhasha Dam | Pakistan | Indus River | 4,500 | 2020 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Ethiopian Renaissance | Ethiopia | Blue Nile | 6,000 | 2018 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Guanyinyan | China | Jinsha | 3,000 | 2016 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Jirau | Brazil | Madeira | 3,750[33] | 2016 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Lianghekou | China | Yalong | 3,000 | 2021 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Maerdang | China | Yellow | 2,200 | 2016 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Myitsone | Myanmar | Irrawaddy | 3,600 | 2017 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Rogun | Tajikistan | Vakhsh | 3,600 | unknown | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Shuangjiangkou | China | Dadu | 2,000 | 2018 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Subansiri | India | Subansiri | 2,000 | 2018 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
TaSang | Myanmar | Salween | 7,110 | 2022 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Tocoma | Venezuela | Caroní | 2,160 | 2016 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Wudongde | China | Jinsha | 8,700 | 2020 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Ituango | Colombia | Cauca | 2,400 | 2018 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
See also
- List of conventional hydroelectric power stations
- List of pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations
- List of largest power stations in the world
- List of tallest dams in the world
- List of largest dams
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Itaipu Binacional: Energy
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-three-gorges-dam-breaks-world-hydropower-record-004111862.html
- ↑ first unit installed in 1984, 18th in 1991; in 2003 2 additional units were installed
- ↑ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-07/02/c_133453148.htm
- ↑ http://energy.people.com.cn/n/2014/0702/c71661-25228009.html
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ first unit installed in 1942, 21st in 1991; 6 units in third powerplant were installed between 1975 and 1980, 3 units of pumped-storage plant were installed in 1973, 3 more units in 1983 and 1984
- ↑ http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/201406/28/t20140628_3058868.shtml
- ↑ http://energy.people.com.cn/GB/7650064.html
- ↑ 10 units were installed between 1985 and 1989, after 2009 failure new units were installed between 2010 and 2014
- ↑ http://yn.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2014-06/27/c_133441204.htm
- ↑ Combined with adjacent La Grande-2-A the LG-2 complex has 7,722 MW of installed capacity
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.nalcorenergy.com/churchill-falls.asp
- ↑ http://www.sasac.gov.cn/n1180/n1226/n2410/n314274/7508740.html
- ↑ http://www.yn.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2010-08/25/content_20718495.htm
- ↑ ELETROBRAS 2011 Form 20-F
- ↑ http://www.hydropower.org.cn/info/shownews.asp?newsid=2122
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 http://www.rushydro.ru/activity/marketing/production/generation/2013
- ↑ Combined US-CA capacity >= 1.6 MW greater than this so would be about 10th place.
- ↑ http://www.santoantonioenergia.com.br/energia/energia1/
- ↑ 3,580 MW when all units will be comissioned
- ↑ Combined with adjacent Paulo Afonso IV, Paulo Afonso I, II, III and Apollonius Sales the Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Complex has 4,279 MW of installed capacity
- ↑ http://www.hydropower.org.cn/showNewsDetail.asp?nsId=13203
- ↑ Combined with Robert-Bourassa, it would place LG-2 complex in 5th place
- ↑ http://yn.yunnan.cn/html/2014-06/08/content_3240292.htm
- ↑ http://www.dongfang.com/data/v/201507/4714.html
- ↑ 1,800 MW already installed