Largest Dams in the world by Installed Capacity
Overview
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) refers to capacity as the maximum output of electricity that a generator can produce under ideal conditions.
Three Gorges Dam of China is the largest dam by installed capacity in the world, built with a capacty of 22,500 MW. At second and third, are Itaipu Dam with a capacity of 14,000 MW and Xiluodu Dam at 13,860 MW.The installed capacities of major dams in the world range from 3 MW to 22,500 MW, with the average dam installed with a capacity of 2,489.1 MW.
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Here are the largest dams by installed capacity in the world.
Three Gorges Dam is located in Sandouping, Yiling District, Hubei, China (Asia). The gravity dam was completed in 2008 (14 years old).
Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world by installed capacity. The installed capacity of Three Gorges Dam is 22,500MW. The gravity dam stands 181 meters tall and can impound up to 39.30 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 27.40 million m3.
Itaipu Dam is a buttress dam located in Foz do Iguaçu and Hernandarias, Brazil-Paraguay (South America). It was completed in 1984 (38 years old).
Itaipu Dam is the 2nd largest hydroelectric dam in the world by installed capacity. The installed capacity of Itaipu Dam is 14,000MW. The buttress dam stands 196 meters tall and can impound up to 29 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 12.30 million m3.
Compare Itaipu Dam with Clywedog Reservoir Dam from United Kingdom.
Xiluodu Dam is located in Sichuan province, China (Asia). The arch dam was completed in 2013 (9 years old).
Xiluodu Dam is the 3rd largest hydroelectric dam in the world by installed capacity. The arch dam has an installed capacity of 13,860MW. Xiluodu Dam stands 285.50 meters tall and can impound up to 12.67 billion m3 of water.
Belo Monte Dam is a 6-year-old gravity dam (completed in 2016). It is located in Pará, Brazil (South America).
Belo Monte Dam is the 2nd largest hydroelectric gravity dam in the world by installed capacity. The structural height of Belo Monte Dam is 90 meters while its structural volume of 25.36 million m3. The gravity dam can hold up to 1.89 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 11,233MW.
Compare Belo Monte Dam with Grand Coulee Dam from United States.
Completed in 1978, Guri Dam is a 44-year-old gravity dam. It is also known as Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant and is located in Necuima Canyon, Bolívar, Venezuela (South America).
The gravity dam stands at a height of 162 meters and impounds up to 135 billion m3 of water. Guri Dam has a structural volume of 29.80 million m3 and an installed capacity of 10,235MW.
Wudongde Dam is located in Sichuan province, China (Asia). The arch dam was completed in 2021 (1 years old).
Wudongde Dam is the 2nd largest hydroelectric arch dam in the world by installed capacity. The arch dam has an installed capacity of 10,200MW. Wudongde Dam stands 240 meters tall and can impound up to 7.40 billion m3 of water.
Compare Wudongde Dam with Chirkey Dam from Russia.
Compare Wudongde Dam with New Bullards Bar Dam from United States.
Tucuruí Dam is a gravity dam located in Tucuruí, Pará, Brazil (South America). It was completed in 1984 (38 years old).
Tucuruí Dam is the 3rd largest gravity dam in the world by reservoir volume. The structural height of Tucuruí Dam is 78 meters. The gravity dam can hold up to 45 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 8,370MW.
Compare Tucuruí Dam with Chief Joseph Dam from United States.
Completed in 1942, Grand Coulee Dam is a 80-year-old gravity dam. It is located in Washington State, United States (North America).
Grand Coulee Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in North America by installed capacity. The installed capacity of Grand Coulee Dam is 6,809MW. The gravity dam stands 168 meters tall and can impound up to 12 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 9.16 million m3.
Compare Grand Coulee Dam with Dworshak Dam from United States.
Xiangjiaba Dam is a gravity dam located in Yunnan Province, China (Asia). It was completed in 2012 (10 years old).
The installed capacity of Xiangjiaba Dam is 6,448MW. The gravity dam stands 161 meters tall and can impound up to 5.16 billion m3 of water.
Dams Lists
Largest Dams by Installed Capacity (MW): world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Tallest Dams: world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Dams with Largest Structural Volume: world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Dams with Largest Reservoir Volume: world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Largest/tallest Dams by Type: Arch Dams | Embankment Dams | Gravity Dams | Arch-Gravity Dams | Buttress Dams