07 Dec Largest Hydropower Producer in the World
Hydropower, also referred to as hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is dependent on moving water. Water is the largest single renewable energy source responsible for electricity generation in America.
We live in a world that is increasingly interested in renewable energy, and hydropower is arguably the oldest form of green energy generation that we have.
However, just because it’s old, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t still useful. The largest hydroelectric producers in the world contribute a vast amount of electricity to power the hungry technological inventions of modern society. But before we dive into the largest hydropower producers, let’s go over the fundamentals of how the process works and the benefits it provides.
Hydroelectric Plants Explained
In a three-step energy process, hydropower plants capture the kinetic energy of falling water and use it to generate electricity. A simplified explanation step-by-step includes:
- Water propels through turbines
- The turbine changes the kinetic energy into mechanical energy.
- Next, a generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
In other words, a dam (or something else that diverts and channels water into a useful funnel) creates an elevation difference to power the turbine. So water that would otherwise be flowing on its own can now be converted into usable energy.
Hydroelectric power is produced in 150 countries. In 2015, hydropower was responsible for generating almost seventeen percent of the world’s power. Currently, it’s also responsible for seventy percent of renewable electricity.
Curious to know about the largest hydroelectric power projects in the world? We’ve listed them below.
The Largest Hydroelectric Producers in the World
Because of constant construction and technological innovation, the largest hydropower producer in the world by population and the hydropower percentage by country are constantly changing. It is also difficult to obtain accurate data for projects overall, because many are build on a smaller scale and the impact isn’t always documented in uniform manner.
Currently, China tops the list as the largest hydropower producer in the world, but it’s followed by Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Russia. The good news is that more and more countries are battling their way on to this list!
10 Largest Power Producing Dams in the World
There are examples of hydropower use all around the world at massively differing scales. There are many cases of hydropower done locally in small drainage ditches, which is very useful in itself, but not as interesting as the massive size of some dams. Curious to know about the largest power-producing dams in the world? We’ve listed them below.
Three Gorges, China
Three Gorges is the largest hydroelectric power project in the world because it generates the greatest amount of electricity. It’s located on the four-thousand-mile Yangtze River, the third-longest in the world. Here are some quick facts on Three Gorges:
- When completed, it cost an estimated 30 billion dollars. The plan will begin showing a profit at the end of a decade.
- The concrete and steel dam is over a mile long and six thousand feet high. Over five hundred tons of steel were required for its construction, which is enough to build sixty Eiffel Tower structures.
- Three Gorges has thirty-four generators for hydroelectric power equivalent to fifty million tons of coal or twenty-five million tons of oil.
- A four-hundred-square-mile reservoir is a flood-prevention structure. It allows large freighters to sail into China’s interior. However, it also resulted in the obliteration of over a hundred towns.
- Still, the dam generates over 11x as much electrical power as Hoover Dam
Those into visual projection have said that Three Gorges is so big that the first of earth’s inhabitants on the moon will be able to see it from there.
The project took a significant landmass through some of China’s beautiful countryside. Environmentalists have expressed ongoing concerns about the project. Besides the land lost to Three Gorges, over one and a quarter million people were dislocated. Some plants indigenous to the area are now endangered. Overall, Three Gorges is more than just a major contributor to China being the largest hydropower producer in the world. It is also one of the most incredible manmade structures we’ve seen in this generation.
Itaipu Dam, Brazil, and Paraguay
Second, located on the Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay, the Itaipu Dam hydroelectric power plant generated the most energy of any in the world when it was first completed in 1984. It produced a record-setting 103,098,366 megawatt-hours even surpassing Three Gorges in 2015-2026.
Itaipu was the collaborative project of Brazil and Paraguay who co-operated it. Itaipu’s twenty generators produce 14 GW of power. Ten were owned by each of the co-operating countries. Most of the power was exported to Brazil on lines about five hundred miles long.
Xiluodu Dam, China
Located on the Jinsha River near the town on Xiluodu, the dam straddlesLeibo County of Sichuan Province on the opposite side of the river forming an arch shape. The project begins in late 2005 generates 13,860 MW of power. Xiluodu was opened in 2013. It has eighteen turbines that generate the third-largest power in the world. The dam is 286 meters high and cost over six million US dollars.
Guri Dam, Venezuela
Built-in 1978, also known as the Simon Bolivar Hydroelectric Plant, the Guri Dam is a concrete gravity and embankment dam that stretches 7,426 meters long and 162 meters high. Its generating capacity of 10,235 MW. The Guri Reservoir has an area of 4,250 square miles.
Tucuruí Dam, Brazil
Located on the Tocantins River, Tucurui Dam is the first large-scale hydropower project to be built in the Amazon rainforest. Constructed in 1984, Tucurui has a generating capacity of 8,370 MW. Its name means “grasshopper water”. The twenty-five unit plant took four years to build. A second phase, begun in 1998 was completed in 2010. Tucurui Dam is famous and most recognized because was featured in The Emerald Forest, a 1985 film.
Xiangjiaba Dam, China
Third largest hydroelectric power plant was built on the Jinsha, a tributary of the Yangtze River in 2012, Xiangjiaba has a generating capacity of 6,448 MW. The large gravity dam in southwest China has eight turbines, Xiangjiaba Dam is China’s third-largest. It transmits power to Shanghai.
Grand Coulee Dam, United States
Built on the Columbia River back in 1933, this Washington state classic concrete gravity dam with a generating capacity of 6,809 MW is still one of the largest in the world and the largest in the USA. Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1942. A third powerhouse was added in 1974. The Grand Coulee is currently undergoing major renovations.
Longtan Dam, China
Located on China’s Hengshui River, the Longtan Dam is the tallest hydroelectric generating plant in the world. Commissioned in 200, it has a generating capacity of 6,426 MW. This concrete gravity dam is over seven hundred feet high and 2,785 feet long. There are seven surface spillways. Longtan has the world’s tallest ship lift system and an underground power station.
Krasnoyarsk Dam, Russia
Constructed between 1985 and1972, Krasnoyarsk is a concrete gravity dam located in the south of Russia. It has a generating capacity of 6,000 MW. Located on the Yenisey River, Krasnoyarsk Dam is 407 feet long. It generates power mainly for the Krasnoyarsky Aluminum Plant.
Robert-Bourassa, Canada
Finally, part of the James Bay Project in the province of Quebec, the Robert Bourassa Plant has a generating capacity of 5,616 MW. Formerly known as La Grande-2 plant, it was renamed for long-standing Quebec Premier, Robert Bourassa, it was commissioned in 1981. Annually the plant generates about 26,500 GWh.
Not the Only Examples of Hydropower Use
We can’t stress enough that you don’t need to be the largest hydropower producer in the world for this to be a strong investment. It’s easy to get distracted by these massive projects, but hydroelectric plants of all sizes can create dependable, renewable energy that will pay for itself many times over.
Also, there are many ways to reinvigorate current hydroelectric plants and find solutions that can add new value. Working with a knowledgable partner can help maintain, improve, and extend the life of a hydropower station.
Become One of the Largest Hydropower Producers
Whether your goal is to build one of the largest power-producing dams in the world or simply to build a successful hydropower station, we can help you bring the project to reality.
We have been providing hydroelectric rehabilation services for decades, and we work with both public and private owners. We’re perfectly positioned as a company that’s small enough to be agile and able to adjust for any necessary changes, but we’re also big enough to have the resources to compete with large conglomerates.
Gracon offers a diverse range of development and construction services for hydroelectric plants. Learn more about our state-of-the-art construction. Please contact us for more information.