The World´s Largest Hydroelectric Power Plants | TOP 6

Summary

This YouTube video explores the world's largest hydroelectric power plants, emphasizing their role in renewable energy. The Three Gorges Dam in China, the world's largest, is highlighted for its massive scale and output. Other notable plants include Itaipu on the Brazil-Paraguay border, Xiluodu in China, Belo Monte in Brazil, Guri in Venezuela, and Tucurui in Brazil. The video details their capacities, construction, and the ways they contribute to energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Takeaways

• 💧 Hydroelectric power, also known as hydropower, is a major source of renewable energy used for electricity generation worldwide.
• ⚙️ Hydroelectric power plants operate by harnessing the kinetic and potential energy of moving water to drive turbines, which in turn generate electricity.
• 🏞️ Dams are crucial for hydroelectric power as they store water, acting like batteries, to ensure a reliable supply for electricity generation, irrigation, and other uses.
• 🌎 The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world's largest hydropower plant, with a capacity of 22.5GW, and it began generating electricity in 2003.
• 🏭 The Itaipu Dam, located on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, is the second-largest hydropower plant globally, with a capacity of 14GW.
• 🔋 The Xiluodu Dam in China is the third-largest hydropower plant, with a capacity of 13.86GW, and it was inaugurated in 2013.
• 🌊 The Belo Monte Dam in Brazil is the fourth-largest dam, with an 11.2GW capacity, and it is designed to provide a significant portion of the country's energy needs.
• 💡 The Guri Dam in Venezuela is the fifth-largest dam, with a capacity of 10.2GW, and it covers 73% of the country's energy needs.
• 🏗️ The Tucurui Dam in Brazil is the sixth-largest hydropower plant, known for its large spillways and significant contribution to the local energy grid.
• 🔌 Hydropower plants often require extensive transmission infrastructure to deliver electricity from remote locations to urban areas and industries.

Q & A

What is hydroelectric power and how does it work?

Hydroelectric power, also known as hydroelectricity, is a form of renewable energy that depends on the movement of water. It works by using the kinetic and potential energy of water to drive turbines, which in turn drive generators to convert mechanical energy into electricity.

Why are dams necessary for hydroelectric power plants?

Dams are necessary for hydroelectric power plants because they store water for later release, ensuring a reliable water supply for power generation. They also serve purposes such as irrigation, domestic and industrial use.

What is the world's largest hydropower plant and where is it located?

The world's largest hydropower plant is the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Plant, located in Yangtze, China. It took the title in 2012.

What are the dimensions and materials used in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam?

The Three Gorges Dam is a concrete gravity structure with a maximum height of 185 meters and 2,335 meters long. Its infrastructure consists of 28 million cubic meters of concrete and 463,000 metric tons of steel.

How much electricity did the Three Gorges Dam generate in the first half of 2018?

The Three Gorges Dam generated 38.9 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in the first half of 2018.

What is the capacity of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant and where is it located?

The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant has a capacity of 14 GW and is located between the border of Brazil and Paraguay on the Paraná River.

What is the purpose of the Xiluodu Hydroelectric Power Plant and where is it situated?

The Xiluodu Hydroelectric Power Plant, with a capacity of 13.86 GW, is located in Yongshan of Yunnan province in China. It is built on the Jinsha Jiang River and its purpose is to generate power and control floods.

What is the annual power generation of the Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant?

The Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant provides almost 40 terawatt-hours (TW/h) of energy to Brazil yearly.

How much energy does the Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant supply to Venezuela and what percentage of the country's needs does it cover?

The Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant supplies almost 12,900 gigawatt-hours (GW/h) of energy to Venezuela, covering 73% of the country's needs.

What is unique about the Tucurui Hydroelectric Power Plant?

The Tucurui Hydroelectric Power Plant is known for having the world's largest spillways and is located on the Tocantins River in Brazil. It provides almost 21.4 TW/h of energy to the country yearly.

How are the transmission lines of the Itaipu Dam different and what are their specifications?

The Itaipu Dam has two power plant substations with different frequencies: a 50-hertz system with six transmission lines of 500 kV and a 60-hertz system with three to four transmission lines.