Where is Russia: where are the 10 most powerful hydropower plants in the world

Water passing through narrow channels in the body of the dam carries enormous energy. At the outlet of the dam, turbines are installed that are connected to the generator. The energy generated as a result of the rotation of the turbines is sent to the transformers, and then it goes outside the station via power lines (power lines).

At the initial stage of the construction of a hydroelectric power station, a thorough assessment of possible risks and negative environmental impacts is required. During the construction of such large-scale structures, a large amount of land is flooded and people are often required to be relocated. At the same time, hydroelectric dam are one of the most ambitious technical structures of mankind, causing real admiration.

Let's see in which countries of the world the most powerful 10 hydroelectric power stations are located on the planet and where the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station is located - the most powerful such station in our country.

Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, China

This hydroelectric power station has a capacity of 22,500 MW, and the launch of the first units took place in 2003. The construction of this grandiose structure required the relocation of more than 1.3 million people. But the result was worth it. Besides the fact that the Three Gorges hydroelectric power station is the most powerful among similar structures in the whole world, it also saved the region downstream from floods. According to experts, the wayward Yangtze over the past 100 years has claimed the lives of about 1.5 million people. Therefore, by regulating the flow of the dam, the Chinese were finally able to protect themselves from colossal losses and casualties.

Itaipu on the Parana River, Brazil / Paraguay

This hydroelectric power station has a capacity of 14,000 MW and is owned simultaneously by Brazil and Paraguay. Over 10,000 families were resettled to fill the reservoir. Today, this hydropower plant produces about 70% of the total energy consumed by Paraguay and 15% of Brazil’s energy.

"Siloda" on the Yangtze River, China

And again, China and its great Yangtze River. The capacity of this hydroelectric power station is 13,860 MW. The third largest hydroelectric power station in the world was commissioned in 2014.

Hydroelectric Power Station named after Simon Bolivar ("Guri") on the Caroni River, Venezuela

This hydroelectric power station ranks fourth in the world and has a capacity of 10,230 MW. Hydroelectric power station named after Simone Bolivar meets Venezuela's electricity needs by 60% and also produces energy for export to Brazil and Colombia.

Tucurui Hydroelectric Power Station on the Tokantins River, Brazil

Tukurui is the second largest hydroelectric power station in South America. It was launched in two stages, and today the total capacity of the station is 8,370 MW.

Grand Coulee Hydroelectric Power Station on the Columbia River, USA

It is the largest hydroelectric power station in North America. After the commissioning of the last turbines in 1985, the capacity of this station amounted to 6,809 MW.

Xiangjiang HPP on the Yangtze River, China

And again, the Yangtze River, which the Chinese decided to use to the maximum. The total capacity of the turbines of this hydroelectric power station, commissioned in 2014, is 6,448 MW.

Luntan Hydroelectric Power Station on the Hongshuihe River, China

The capacity of the hydroelectric power station, which occupies the 8th place in the world, is slightly inferior to the previous one - 6,426 MW. This time it is the Hongshuihe River, which the Chinese forced to work for the good of the economy in 2009.

Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station on the Yenisei River, Russia

Finally, the Russian hydroelectric power station is on the list of the most-most. The most powerful hydroelectric power station in Russia is capable of generating 6,400 MW of energy and was launched in 1989. Since then, it has undergone a complete reconstruction process after the accident in August 2009.

Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station on the Yenisei River, Russia

The Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric station, which is also located in our country on the Yenisei River, closes the list of the largest hydroelectric power stations of the planet at the moment. The commissioning of this hydroelectric power station took place in 1971, and its capacity is 6,000 MW. The cascade of hydroelectric power plants on the Yenisei River was built mainly to provide cheap and uninterrupted energy to the country's largest aluminum smelters. The production of aluminum is a very energy-consuming process, therefore, all large enterprises producing aluminum are located in Siberia, at the locations of large hydroelectric power stations.

But this list is quite dynamic: a number of the largest hydropower facilities are currently under construction. In China, Brazil, Ethiopia, Myanmar, hydroelectric power stations will appear in the coming years, which will complement the list of “most-most”, and Russia will lose its position.