The Three Gorges Dam has a generating capacity of 22,500 megawatts, making it the world’s largest hydroelectric power station by installed capacity.
The dam crosses the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, China. Its turbines use the height difference between the upstream reservoir and downstream river to convert moving water into electricity. The main power plant contains 32 large turbines rated at 700 megawatts each, plus two smaller units.
Construction began in 1994, and the final main generating units entered service in 2012. The project also supports flood control and improved navigation, although it caused major population displacement and substantial ecological and cultural impacts.
Installed capacity describes the maximum rated output, not the electricity produced every hour. Actual generation varies with river flow, reservoir management, maintenance, and electricity demand. The Itaipu Dam is also among the world’s biggest hydroelectric facilities, but its installed capacity is lower.