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.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Introduction to Hydroelectric Power Plants

The script introduces hydroelectric power, highlighting its reliance on the kinetic and potential energy of moving water to generate electricity. It explains how water drives turbines that power generators, converting mechanical energy into electricity. The necessity of dams for a reliable water supply is discussed, emphasizing their role in storing water like a battery for power generation. The script then transitions into a ranking of the world's largest hydropower plants, starting with the Three Gorges Dam in China, recognized as the world's largest with a capacity of 22.5GW. The construction timeline, structural details, and power generation capabilities of the Three Gorges Dam are outlined, including its record-breaking size and the materials used in its construction. The script also mentions the dam's reservoir size and the amount of electricity it generated in the first half of 2018. Following this, the Itaipu Dam, located on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, is introduced as the world's second-largest dam with a capacity of 14GW. Itaipu's construction, cost, and the institutions responsible for its power transmission are detailed, along with its energy generation achievements.

05:02

🏭 Details on World's Top Hydroelectric Power Plants

The second paragraph delves into further details about the world's top hydroelectric power plants. It starts with the Xiluodu Dam, the third-largest dam globally, located in China, with a capacity of 13.86GW. The paragraph describes the dam's power generating turbines, their output, and the transmission line systems. It also mentions the dam's physical dimensions and the project's cost. The script then moves on to the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil, the fourth-largest dam, with a focus on its two powerhouses, substations, and transmission lines. The paragraph outlines the dam's annual energy contribution to Brazil. Next, the Guri Dam in Venezuela is highlighted as the world's fifth-largest dam, detailing its construction phases, power generation capacity, and the percentage of the country's energy needs it covers. The Tucurui Dam, the sixth-largest, is also discussed, with emphasis on its spillways, location, and the energy it provides annually. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe, like, share, and support the channel on Patreon.

Keywords

💡Hydroelectric power

Hydroelectric power, also known as hydropower, is a form of renewable energy that is generated by harnessing the kinetic and potential energy of moving water. In the context of the video, this term is central as it describes the primary method by which electricity is produced at the facilities discussed. The video emphasizes the role of hydroelectric power plants in generating a significant portion of the world's electricity, as exemplified by the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Plant in China.

💡Renewable energy

Renewable energy refers to energy sources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, and water. The video script highlights hydroelectric power as the largest single source of renewable energy for electricity generation globally, underscoring its importance in sustainable energy production.

💡Turbines

Turbines are mechanical devices that convert the kinetic energy of a fluid (in this case, water) into mechanical energy. In the video, turbines are mentioned as a critical component in hydroelectric power plants, where they are driven by water to generate electricity. The script describes how the water's force turns the turbines, which then drive generators.

💡Dams

Dams are barriers built across rivers to store water, which can be released as needed for various purposes, including electricity generation. The video script explains that dams are essential for hydroelectric power plants because they provide a reliable water supply. Examples given include the Three Gorges Dam and the Itaipu Dam, both of which are highlighted for their massive scale and energy production capabilities.

💡Reservoir

A reservoir is an artificial lake created by a dam, used to store water for various purposes, including power generation. In the video, reservoirs are likened to batteries, storing water that can be released to generate electricity when demand is high. The script mentions the Three Gorges Dam's reservoir, which has a significant surface area and plays a crucial role in the dam's power generation capacity.

💡Transmission lines

Transmission lines are high-voltage power lines used to transmit electricity from generating stations to consumers. The video script discusses the need for transmission lines to deliver electricity from large hydropower plants, which are often located in remote areas, to urban centers where it is needed. Examples include the transmission lines associated with the Itaipu and Belo Monte hydroelectric power plants.

💡Hydropower station

A hydropower station is a facility that uses water power to generate electricity. The video script describes several hydropower stations, including the Three Gorges and Itaipu, detailing their capacities and the technologies they use to convert water energy into electricity.

💡Water head

Water head refers to the vertical distance that water falls, which is used to generate hydroelectric power. In the video, the term is used to describe the pressure at which water is released from the Three Gorges Dam, contributing to its electricity generation.

💡Gigawatt (GW)

A gigawatt is a unit of power equal to one billion watts, often used to measure the capacity of large power plants. The video script provides the capacity of various hydroelectric power plants in gigawatts, such as the 22.5GW Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Plant, to convey the scale of their electricity generation capabilities.

💡Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy equal to one kilowatt of power expended for one hour. The video script uses this term to quantify the amount of electricity generated by hydropower plants, such as the 38.9 billion kWh produced by the Three Gorges Dam in the first half of 2018.

💡Spillway

A spillway is a structure that allows excess water to flow over, under, or through a dam to control the water level. The video mentions spillways in the context of the Xiluodu Dam, which includes a spillway tunnel, and the Tucurui Dam, which has the world's largest spillways.

Highlights

Hydroelectric power is the world's largest single renewable energy source for electricity generation.

Hydroelectricity power plants use kinetic and potential energy of water to generate electricity.

Dams are essential for reliable water supply in hydroelectric power generation.

The Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Plant in China is the world's largest with a capacity of 22.5GW.

The Three Gorges Dam is also the world's largest dam structure.

The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, located on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, is the second largest with a capacity of 14GW.

The Xiluodu Hydroelectric Power Plant in China is the third largest, with a capacity of 13.86GW.

The Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant in Brazil is the fourth largest and the second largest in Brazil.

The Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant in Venezuela is the fifth largest and covers 73% of the country's energy needs.

The Tucurui Hydroelectric Power Plant is the sixth largest and has the world's largest spillways.

Hydropower plants can have a significant impact on reducing the use of fossil fuels for power generation.

Large hydropower plants are often in remote locations, requiring long-distance power transmission.

Hydropower plants can act as a battery, storing water to be released as needed for power generation.

Some hydropower stations have twice the capacity of the largest nuclear power stations.

Hydroelectric power plants can also serve purposes such as irrigation and domestic use.

The Three Gorges Dam has a concrete gravity structure with a maximum height of 185 meters and 2,335 meters long.

The Itaipu Dam project was a 19.6 billion dollar investment and started in 1971.

The Xiluodu Dam consists of 18 power generating turbines, each with an output of 770 MW.

The Belo Monte Dam has two powerhouses with a combined capacity of over 1300 MW.

The Guri Dam was constructed to lessen the use of fossil fuels and has a capacity of 12,200 MW.

The Tucurui Hydropower Plant provides energy to the city of Tucurui and is 350 kilometers away from Belem.

Transcripts

Hi and welcome back to my youtube channel.  Hydroelectric power sometimes referred to as  

hydroelectricity is dependent on moving water. Water is the largest single renewable energy  

source responsible for electricity generation in the world. Hydroelectricity power plants generate  

electricity using the kinetic and potential energy of water. The water drives turbines that in  

turn drive generators which convert mechanical  energy into electricity. At facilities called  

hydroelectric power plants, hydropower is generated.  Some power plants are located on rivers, streams  

and canals but for a reliable water supply dams are needed. Dams store water for later release for such  

purposes as irrigation, domestic and industrial use, and power generation. The reservoir acts much  

like a battery, storing water to be released as needed to generate power. Once the electricity  

is produced it must be delivered to where it's  needed: our homes, schools, offices, factories, etc...  

Dams are often in remote locations and power must  be transmitted over some distance to its users  

Large hydropower plants are the biggest  power-producing facilities in the world. 

Some hydropower stations even have twice the capacity of the current largest  

nuclear power stations. So here are the largest hydropower plants in the world.

THE 22.5GW Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Three Gorgeous Dam is considered to be the world's largest hydropower plant and it took this  

place in 2012. it's located in Yangtze China. The official construction of this dam started in 1994  

and it was also the largest engineering project of China. When the Three Gorges Dam  

was constructed it also gained the largest dam structure title in the world, as well. 

It's a concrete gravity structure with a maximum  height of 185 meters and 2 335 meters long.

Its infrastructure consists of a mixture of concrete and steel. It has 28 million cubic meters of  

concrete and 463 000 metric tons of steel design.  Hydropower generation of this dam started in 2003  

and with time, generation capacity increased with  the increase in demand and compatibility, as well. 

Three gorgeous dam has 67 meters long reservoir  with a surface area of 1.57 kilometers.  

The hydropower station of this stamp uses a  water head of 113 kilometers. The Three Gorgeous  

Dam power station generated 38.9 billion kVh of electricity in the first half of 2018.

The 14GW Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant. Itaipu Dam is considered  

the world's second largest dam. It has a power generation capacity of 14 GW.

Itaipu dam is located between the border of Brazil and  Paraguay and this dam fulfill the energy needs  

of both countries, as well. The dam was constructed on the Purana river. Itaipu dam project was a 19.6  

billion dollar project and it started in 1971.  This dam covers almost 1 350 kilometers square  

region of the reservoir and 10.4 MW/km2 is its water utilization.  

This hydropower plant achieved huge success  in 2016 by generating 103.1 million MW/h 

and currently in 2019 it generated 79.4  MW/h of energy. The construction of  

this dam started with the crushing of rock and the  installation of four rock concentration centers.  

Two institutions are responsible for the transmission of power and energy from this dam  

and they are Furnace Centras Electricas  of Brazil and Administration National  

de Electricida of Paraguay, and energy  is transmitted to an incorporation system. 

There are two power plant substitutions of  50 hertz and 60 hertz, and they both are gas  

insulated as well. The 50 hertz substitution consists of six transmission lines of  

500 kV while the 60 hertz substitution  consists of three to four transmission lines.

the 13.86GW Xiluodu Hydroelectric Power Plant 

Xiluodu dam is considered the world's third  largest dam. the Xiluodu hydropower plant is a  

13.86GW power plant which is located  in Yongshan of Yunnan province in China.  

The hydro power plant is made on the Jinsha Jiang River, and it was inaugurated in 2013.   

The aim of this project is to generate power and the  controlling of floods and their discharge as well.  

This dam consists of 18 power generating turbines  and each turbine gives an output of 770 MW.  

Power generating turbines have air cooled  generators that have a speed of 855.6 MVA 

It has a gas insulation transmission line  systems that have a power capacity of 3000 MVA.  

This power capacity is at the voltage  of 550 kV and is capable of generating  

a current ampere of 4500 A. The hydropower  plant of this dam has a spillway tunnel as well.  

The height of this dam is 278 meters  long and has a width of 700 meters.  

The worth of this project is 3.9 billion dollars.  

the Xiluodu power plant generates roughly  64 TW/h of power a year.

The 11.2GW Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant. Bello Monte is considered the world's  

fourth largest dam and second largest in Brazil  and it's based on the Xingu River in north Brazil. 

It's a 11.2 GW power generation project. This dam has basically two powerhouses. One powerhouse  

consists of 18 power generation turbines with  a total capacity of 1100 MW, and another  

powerhouse has a total capacity of 233 MW.  There are also two substations of Belo Monte 

and the power generated from these is sent to the  national interconnected system transmission line.  

There are five 500 kV transmission  lines that connect Xingu substations.  

Electricity generated from the Xingu  station is then transmitted through two  

800 kV ultravoltage direct current  transmission lines to southeast Brazil.  

The purpose is to connect with the  Bello Monte transmission lines.  

This dam provides almost 40 TW/h of energy to the whole country yearly.

The 10.2GW Guri Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Guri dam is considered the world's fifth largest  dam and is based on the upstream of Caroni river  

Guri hydropower plant is based in Orinoco  Venezuela. The power generation capacity of this  

hydropower plant is 12 200 MW which makes  it the world's third largest power generation  

plant in the world. This dam provides almost 12  900 GW/h of energy to the whole country,  

and it covers 73% of the needs of the country as  well. This dam was constructed to lessen the use  

of fossil fuels in order to generate power. In the first phase, the powerhouse was developed,  

that consists of 10 generators with a capacity of  2065 MW. The final stage of construction of  

this dam includes the development of powerhouse  2 and which was made of concrete. In powerhouse 2  

there are 10 630 MW generators and after  this inauguration of the dam was held in 1986.  

This hydropower plant has three high voltage  switch yards and they run on 800 kV 400 kV

and 230 kV respectively. The  cost of this project was 5.2 billion dollars

The 8.37GW Tucurui Hydroelectric Power Plant. Tucurui is considered the world's sixth  

largest hydropower plant Tucurui hydropower  plant has the world's largest spillways as well. 

Tucurui hydropower plant is based on the Tocantis River of Brazil and is almost 350 kilometers away  

from the Belem. The power generated from this  hydropower plant covers the needs of Tucurui city  

which is in the state of Para. Its initial phase, or first phase started operating in 1984 that has  

12 x 330 MW generation units. It  also has 2 x 25 MW auxiliary units  

and spillways having 23 floodgates as well.  It's also a concrete gravity dam and provides  

navigation as well. It's also considered the fifth  largest hydroelectric power station in the amazon  

rainforest of Brazil. It was inaugurated in 1984  and its construction cost was 55 billion dollars.  

This Hydro power plant has 11 power generation  turbines along with eight power generators.  

The addition of new generators is being done to  increase the efficiency and productivity of  

this dam. This dam provides almost 21.4 TW/h of energy to the whole country yearly.

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