20 biggest power plants in the world

The United States, China and Japan are the world's largest producers of electricity. India has the fifth-largest electricity-generation capacity in the world. It has an installed capacity of over 152 gigawatts (1 gigawatt is equal to 1 billion watts).

Let's take a look at some of the biggest power plants in the world.

...

Three Gorges Dam (China)

Capacity: 18,460 MW

Global rank: 1

The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest hydropower project. Built on the Yangtze River in China, its construction began in 1994 and was fully operational in 2011.

It is expected to produce as much as 22.5 gigawatts of power.

...

Itaipu power plant (Brazil)

Capacity: 14,750 MW

Global rank: 2

The second-largest hydroelectric power plant on the Brazil-Paraguay border currently has over 20 generator units.

...

Simon Bolivar (Venezuela)

Capacity: 10,055 MW

Global rank: 3

Venezuela meets 82 per cent of its electricity needs from the Simon Bolivar Hydroelectric Power Station.

...

Tucurui (Brazil)

Capacity: 8,370 MW

Global rank: 4

Tucurui is the third-largest power generator in Brazil, representing 10 per cent of Brazil's installed capacity.

...

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (Japan)

Capacity: 8,206 MW

Global rank: 5

Owned and operated by The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the largest nuclear generating station in the world by net electrical power rating.

...

Bruce Power (Canada)

Capacity: 6,830 MW

Global rank: 6

Bruce Power is Canada's first private nuclear generator.

...

Sayanao-Shushenskaya Dam (Russia)

Capacity: 6,500 MW

Global rank: 7

Located on the Yenisei River in Russia, it is the largest power plant in Russia and the sixth-largest hydroelectric plant in the world.

...

Grand Coulee (United States)

Capacity: 6,495 MW

Global rank: 8

Grand Coulee is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in Washington. It is the largest electric power-producing facility in the United States and one of the largest concrete structures in the world.

...

Longtan (China)

Capacity: 6,426 MW

Global rank: 9

Longtan Dam is a large roller-compacted concrete gravity dam on the Hongshui River in China.

...

Krasnoyarsk (Russia)

Capacity: 6,000 MW

Global rank: 10

The Krasnoyarsk Dam is a 124-metre (407 ft) high concrete gravity dam located on the Yenisey River in Divnogorsk, Russia.

...

Zaporizhzhya (Ukraine)

Capacity: 6,000 MW

Global rank: 11

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant on the bank of Kakhovsky reservoir is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

...

Poryong (South Korea)

Capacity: 5,954 MW

Global rank: 12

The Poryong plant is operated by Korea Electric Power company. The world's sixth-largest nuclear power producer, South Korea operates 21 nuclear power plants commercially.

...

Ulchin (South Korea)

Capacity: 5,900 MW

Global rank: 13

Ulchin is one among the 21 nuclear generating stations in South Korea.

...

Yonggwang (South Korea)

Capacity: 5,900 MW

Global rank: 14

The Yonggwang plant, one of the largest nuclear plants in South Korea, has been operating six reactors since 1978.

...

Taichung Power plant (Taiwan)

Capacity: 5,834 MW

Global rank: 15

The Taichung Power Plant is the largest coal-fired power station in the world.

...

Gravelines (France)

Capacity: 5,706 MW

Global rank: 16

The Gravelines Nuclear Power Station is the fifth-largest nuclear power station in the world.

...

Futtsu (Japan)

Capacity: 5,598 MW

Global rank: 17

The Futtsu Power Station is the second-largest gas-fired power station in the world. The facility is owned by Tepco.

...

Paluel (France)

Capacity: 5,528 MW

Global rank: 18

Operated by EDF, the nuclear power station consists of four 1330 MWe class pressurised water reactors.

...

Cattenom Nuclear Power Station (France)

Capacity: 5,448 MW

Global rank: 19

The Cattenom Nuclear Power Station located in Lorraine is close to the city of Luxembourg.

...

Churchill Falls (Canada)

Capacity: 5,429 MW

Global rank: 20

It is a hydroelectric power station located on the Churchill River.