5 Most Powerful Hydroelectric Power Stations in the World

5. Tucuruí Dam – 8,370 MW – Brazil

Tucuruí dam has a concrete gravity dam on the river Tocantins, in northern Brazil. The main purpose of this power plant is the production of electricity, but also increase the navigability along the Tocantins. It was the first major hydroelectric power plants in the Amazon tropical rain forest. The first phase of construction began in 1975 and ended in 1984, while the second phase of construction started in 1998 and is still ongoing due to the delay.

4. Guri Dam – 10,235 MW – Venezuela

Guri Dam (also known as Simon Bolivar hydropower) is located on the River Caroni, Venezuela. The dam is 7,426 m long and 162 m high. Overflow dam has the ability to flow 27 000 m3 / s of water. Artificial lake Guri has an area of 4,250 km2. In this hydro power plant are two the engine room with 21 hydro turbines, with a total capacity of 10,235 MW, and in that fourth hydropower plant in the world. The average annual energy production is approximately 47,000 GWh. Fact: Lake Guri is the area of a rare species of birds, who are only in this part of the world.

3. Xiluodu Dam – 13,860 MW – China

Xiluodu dam is a large dam on the Jinsha River in China, located near Xiluodu in Yunnan Province. The construction started in December 2005, it was opened by July 2013. Price of construction was about 6.2 billion US dollars. Xiluodu dam is 285.5 meters high and 700 meters long and it is the third highest arch dam in the world. With a total capacity of 13,860 MW it is third hydropower plant in the world.

2. Itaipu Dam – 14,000 MW – Brazil and Paraguay

Itaipu Dam is located on the river Parana, which flows through the border of Brazil and Paraguay, the production of electrical energy is the second largest in the world. The total installed capacity of the plant is 20 × 700 MW or 14 000 MW, and produces electricity for distribution voltage level 220V and 50 Hz for Paraguay, or 110 V and 60 Hz for Brazil which covers about 95% of the Paraguayan and about 25% of Brazilian needs. The word ‘Itaipu’ derives from the language of Guarani Indians and means “singing rock”.

1. Three Gorges Dam – 22,500 MW – China

Three Gorges Dam (China) is a hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River, which is the third longest river in the world. It is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world with an installed capacity of 22,500 MW (in 2012). Last water turbine is connected to the network in 2012. The construction was started in 1994 and cost about 50 billion US dollars. This power plant has 32 water turbines, each with an output of 700 MW and produces 11% of the needs of China’s electricity. Fact is: Due to the construction of a dam under water are monuments from the last two Chinese dynasties, Ming and Qing, at even 1,208 historical places and famous cave sculptures of the Tang Dynasty (7th-10th century). Some historical monuments are moved, but many are submerged under water.