In the modern era, electricity has become an essential need in human life. The burning of fossil fuels, which creates a significant portion of the electricity used by humans, has the potential to harm the environment in the long term.
However, there are methods of electricity production that do not use fossil fuels. An example is the use of hydropower. Hydropower is a source of renewable energy because it depends on the water cycle.
The amount of electricity that hydroelectric dams can generate will surprise you.
Interesting Engineering and The Balance Small Business combine the world's top five hydropower dams that produce the highest amount of electricity.
Three Gorges Dam (China) - Up to 22,500 megawatt
When it comes to energy production, the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China, surpassed all other hydroelectric dams in 2012.
The construction of this dam is estimated to cost $37 billion. Due to the huge volume of the reservoir, the dam is actually capable of slowing the Earth's rotation. The massive dam can produce up to 22,500 megawatt of electricity.
Itaipu Dam (Brazil -Paraguay Border) - Up to 14,000 megawatt
Since its official opening in 1984, the Itaipu Dam has broken many world records.
One of the most notable of these was in 2016, when the Itaipu dam produced 103,098,366 megawatt hours, which is still a record to this day.
The plant produced a record 94.68 billion kWh in 2008, supplying 90% of Paraguay's energy needs and 19,9% of Brazil's. The Itaipu Dam on the Parana River, located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, is capable of producing 14,000 megawatt.
Ke Lac Do Dam (China) - Up to 13,860 megawatt
Khe Lac Do Hydropower Dam creates the third largest amount of electricity than any hydropower project in the world.
With a height of 285m, Khe Lac Do is also the fourth highest dam in the world. The dam is the second largest hydroelectric project in China, with a capacity of 13,860 megawatt. The dam is located on the Kim Sa river in Yunnan province.
Guri Dam (Venezuela) - Up to 10,300 megawatt
The facility supplies up to 73% of Venezuela's energy. The first phase of the construction of the Guri hydropower dam - with a capacity of 1,750 megawatt - began in 2019.
The dam was upgraded in 1978 to provide 2,065 megawatt capacity. Now, the Guri Dam (also known as the Simon Bolvar Dam), located in Bolivar state, Venezuela, has a capacity of up to 10,300 megawatt.
Tucurui Dam (Brazil) - Up to 8,370 megawatt
This hydroelectric dam began construction in 1975 and was officially completed in 2012.
This is the first large hydroelectric project built in the Amazon tropical forest, and the largest hydroelectric project in Brazil.
The Tucurui Dam is wholly owned and operated by Brazil. The dam can produce up to 8,370 megawatt of electricity, supplying electricity to 13 million people.
