Given that we live in the modern era, electricity has become a necessity in our lives. The burning of fossil fuels, which produces a significant portion of the electricity we use, has the potential to harm the environment in the long run.
There are, however, methods for producing power without using fossil fuels. One such example is the use of hydropower. Hydropower is a renewable energy source since it depends on the water cycle.
The amount of electricity that the hydroelectric dams can produce will astound you.
We have compiled the top 5 dams around the world that produce the highest amount of electricity (via Interesting Engineering and thebalancesmallbusiness.com), which you can see below:
The Three Gorges Dam (China) - Up To 22,500 Megawatts
When it comes to producing energy, the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China, surpassed all other hydroelectric dams in 2012. This dam's construction was projected to cost $37 billion. Due to the enormous mass of its reservoir, the dam is actually capable of slowing the Earth's rotation. Up to 22,500 megawatts of electricity can be produced by the massive facility.
Itaipu Dam (Brazil-Paraguay Border) - Up To 14,000 Megawatts
Since its official opening in 1984, the dam has broken numerous world records. One of the most remarkable of these came in 2016, when the facility produced 103,098,366 megawatt hours, still a record to this day. The plant produced a record 94.68 billion kWh in 2008, providing 90% of Paraguay's energy needs and 19% of Brazil's. The facility on the Paraná River, located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, is capable of producing 14,000 megawatts.
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Xiluodu Dam (China) - Up To 13,860 Megawatts
This hydroelectric dam generates the third most electricity of any hydroelectric facility in the world. With a 937-foot height, it is also the fourth-tallest dam in the world. This dam, which is the second-largest hydroelectric facility in China, has a 13,860-megawatt capacity. It is located on the Jinsha river in the Yunnan province.
Guri Dam (Venezuela ) - Up To 10,300 Megawatts
This facility supplies as much as 73% of Venezuela's power. The first phase of construction of this hydroelectric dam, with a capacity of 1750 megawatts, started in 1963. The dam was upgraded in 1978 to provide for a 2065 megawatt capacity. Now, the Guri Dam (also referred to as the Simón Bolvar dam), which is located in Bolívar state, Venezuela, can produce up to 10,300 megawatts of power.
Tucuruí Dam (Brazil) - Up To 8,370 Megawatts
The dam's construction started in 1975, and it was officially finished in 2012. This hydroelectric dam, which is the first major hydroelectric project to be constructed in the Amazon rainforest, is the largest hydroelectric facility in the nation. It is fully owned and run by Brazil. Up to 8,370 megawatts of electricity can be produced by the dam, providing 13 million people with electricity.
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