List of largest hydroelectric power stations

The Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China, has the world's largest instantaneous generating capacity at 22,500 MW of power.

Despite the large difference in installed capacity between Three Gorges Dam and Itaipu Dam, they generate nearly equal amounts of electrical energy during the course of an entire year – Itaipu 103 terawatt-hours (370 PJ) in 2016[1] and Three Gorges 111.8 TWh (402 PJ) in 2020,[2] because the Three Gorges experiences six months per year when there is very little water available to generate power, while the Paraná River continuously feeds the Itaipu with an ample supply of water year-round.

Energy output of the Three Gorges reaches 125 TWh (450 PJ) in years of high feed availability.

As of 2025[update], plans exist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the construction of a hydroelectric power station set to overtake the Three Gorges,[3] with an installed capacity of 39,000 MW.

[6] As of 2014[update], China is working on a 50,000 MW[7] dam as part of the Yarlung Tsangpo Hydroelectric and Water Diversion Project.