Which is the biggest hydroelectric power station in the world?

The correct answer is the Three Gorges Dam (China).

 The Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze River in the Hubei province of China, is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity. It is a marvel of modern civil engineering and a symbol of China's rapid industrial and technological expansion. While other dams like the Itaipu Dam sometimes produce more electricity in a single year due to water flow consistency, the Three Gorges Dam remains the leader in total power-generating potential.

Engineering Scale and Construction

Construction of this massive gravity dam began in 1994 and was declared fully functional in 2012. The structure is made of concrete and steel, stretching 2,335 meters (1.45 miles) in length and standing 181 meters (594 feet) high. To build it, engineers used approximately 27 million cubic meters of concrete and 463,000 tonnes of steel—enough to build 63 Eiffel Towers. The project was designed with three primary goals: flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and the improvement of river navigation. Historically, the Yangtze River was prone to devastating floods that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives; the dam’s massive reservoir allows authorities to regulate water levels and protect millions of people downstream.

Power Generation Capacity

The Three Gorges Dam has an installed capacity of 22,500 Megawatts (MW). This is achieved through 32 main turbines, each with a capacity of 700 MW, plus two smaller generators. To put this in perspective, the energy produced by the dam is equivalent to burning approximately 50 million tonnes of coal or the output of 22 sizable nuclear power plants.

The electricity generated is distributed through a high-voltage network to several provinces in China, significantly reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon dioxide emissions. The dam is a centerpiece of the global transition toward renewable energy, proving that hydroelectricity can meet the demands of a massive population.

Impact on Navigation and Economy

Beyond electricity, the dam has transformed the Yangtze River into a major commercial highway. By creating a deep, calm reservoir, the project allows massive 10,000-tonne freighters to travel deep into China’s interior. To move ships past the 181-meter height difference, engineers constructed a sophisticated five-stage ship lock and the world's largest ship lift, which acts like a giant elevator for smaller vessels.

Environmental and Social Controversy

Despite its benefits, the project has been a subject of international debate. The creation of the 600-kilometer-long reservoir resulted in the flooding of 13 cities, 140 towns, and over 1,300 villages, forcing the relocation of approximately 1.3 million people. Environmentally, the dam has altered the river's ecosystem, affecting local fish populations and the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise. Scientists also monitor the geological impact, as the immense weight of the water in the reservoir can trigger seismic activity.

In summary, the Three Gorges Dam is a testament to human ambition. It remains an essential topic in general knowledge because it represents the pinnacle of renewable energy infrastructure and the complex trade-offs between industrial progress and environmental preservation.