Electrification
Visualizing the World’s Largest Hydroelectric Dams
Visualizing the World’s Largest Hydroelectric Dams
Did you know that hydroelectricity is the world’s biggest source of renewable energy? According to recent figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), it represents 40% of total capacity, ahead of solar (28%) and wind (27%).
This type of energy is generated by hydroelectric power stations, which are essentially large dams that use the water flow to spin a turbine. They can also serve secondary functions such as flow monitoring and flood control.
To help you learn more about hydropower, we’ve visualized the five largest hydroelectric dams in the world, ranked by their maximum output.
Overview of the Data
The following table lists key information about the five dams shown in this graphic, as of 2021. Installed capacity is the maximum amount of power that a plant can generate under full load.
| Country | Dam | River | Installed Capacity (gigawatts) | Dimensions (meters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | Three Gorges Dam | Yangtze River | 22.5 | 181 x 2,335 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil / 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Itaipu Dam | Parana River | 14.0 | 196 x 7,919 |
| 🇨🇳 China | Xiluodu Dam | Jinsha River | 13.9 | 286 x 700 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Belo Monte Dam | Xingu River | 11.2 | 90 X 3,545 |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | Guri Dam | Caroni River | 10.2 | 162 x 7,426 |
At the top of the list is China’s Three Gorges Dam, which opened in 2003. It has an installed capacity of 22.5 gigawatts (GW), which is close to double the second-place Itaipu Dam.
In terms of annual output, the Itaipu Dam actually produces about the same amount of electricity. This is because the Parana River has a low seasonal variance, meaning the flow rate changes very little throughout the year. On the other hand, the Yangtze River has a significant drop in flow for several months of the year.
For a point of comparison, here is the installed capacity of the world’s three largest solar power plants, also as of 2021:
- Bhadla Solar Park, India: 2.2 GW
- Hainan Solar Park, China: 2.2 GW
- Pavagada Solar Park, India: 2.1 GW
Compared to our largest dams, solar plants have a much lower installed capacity. However, in terms of cost (cents per kilowatt-hour), the two are actually quite even.
Closer Look: Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is an engineering marvel, costing over $32 billion to construct. To wrap your head around its massive scale, consider the following facts:
- The Three Gorges Reservoir (which feeds the dam) contains 39 trillion kg of water (42 billion tons)
- In terms of area, the reservoir spans 400 square miles (1,045 square km)
- The mass of this reservoir is large enough to slow the Earth’s rotation by 0.06 microseconds
Of course, any man-made structure this large is bound to have a profound impact on the environment. In a 2010 study, it was found that the dam has triggered over 3,000 earthquakes and landslides since 2003.
The Consequences of Hydroelectric Dams
While hydropower can be cost-effective, there are some legitimate concerns about its long-term sustainability.
For starters, hydroelectric dams require large upstream reservoirs to ensure a consistent supply of water. Flooding new areas of land can disrupt wildlife, degrade water quality, and even cause natural disasters like earthquakes.
Dams can also disrupt the natural flow of rivers. Other studies have found that millions of people living downstream from large dams suffer from food insecurity and flooding.
Whereas the benefits have generally been delivered to urban centers or industrial-scale agricultural developments, river-dependent populations located downstream of dams have experienced a difficult upheaval of their livelihoods.
– Richter, B.D. et al. (2010)
Perhaps the greatest risk to hydropower is climate change itself. For example, due to the rising frequency of droughts, hydroelectric dams in places like California are becoming significantly less economical.
Electrification
Charted: Battery Capacity by Country (2024-2030)
This graphic compares battery capacity by cathode type across major countries.
Charted: Battery Capacity by Country (2024-2030)
As the global energy transition accelerates, battery demand continues to soar—along with competition between battery chemistries.
According to the International Energy Agency, in 2024, electric vehicle sales rose by 25% to 17 million, pushing annual battery demand past 1 terawatt-hour (TWh)—a historic milestone.
This graphic, using exclusive data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (as of February 2025), compares battery capacity by cathode type across major countries. It focuses on the two dominant chemistries: Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP).
Understanding Cathode Chemistries
Batteries store and release energy through the movement of lithium ions. The cathode—a key electrode—determines a battery’s cost, range, and thermal performance.
NCM
- Offers higher energy density and better performance in cold climates, but is more expensive and has a shorter lifespan.
LFP
- Known for its lower cost and improved thermal stability, though it delivers a shorter driving range and adds weight.
As of now, LFP cathodes make up 40% of the EV market in terms of gigawatt-hours (GWh).
Beyond passenger vehicles, LFP batteries are widely used in systems that undergo frequent charging and discharging—like residential and grid-scale energy storage—where added weight isn’t a major concern. They’re also ideal for daily-use applications such as buses and delivery fleets.
Regional Market Trends
In China, LFP is already dominant, accounting for 64% of the market in 2024. By 2030, that figure is projected to grow to 76%, driven by a focus on affordability in the world’s largest EV market. Notably, over 70% of all EV batteries ever manufactured have been produced in China, contributing to deep manufacturing expertise.
| Region/Country | Year | % NCM | % LFP | % Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 2024 | 27% | 64% | 8% |
| North America | 2024 | 71% | 7% | 22% |
| Europe | 2024 | 69% | 8% | 24% |
| South Korea | 2024 | 62% | 4% | 35% |
| Japan | 2024 | 58% | 0% | 42% |
Outside of China, NCM remains the leading chemistry due to consumer demand for longer range and premium performance.
North America – NCM holds a 71% share in 2024, with a slight decline to 69% forecasted for 2030.
Europe – NCM’s share is expected to grow from 69% in 2024 to 71% by 2030.
South Korea and Japan – Both countries show similar trends, with NCM gaining share as LFP remains limited or absent.
Electrification
Top 20 Countries by Battery Storage Capacity
China holds about two-thirds of global BESS capacity.
Visualizing the Top 20 Countries by Battery Storage Capacity
Over the past three years, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) market has been the fastest-growing segment of global battery demand. These systems store electricity using batteries, helping stabilize the grid, store renewable energy, and provide backup power.
In 2024, the market grew by 52%, compared to 25% growth in the EV battery market. Among the top companies in the BESS market are technology giants such as Samsung, LG, BYD, Panasonic, and Tesla.
This graphic highlights the top 20 BESS markets by current and planned grid capacity in gigawatt hour (GWh), based on exclusive data from Rho Motion as of February 2025.
Chinese Dominance
As with the EV market, China currently dominates global BESS deployments, accounting for approximately two-thirds of installed capacity. However, other markets are expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by low-cost lithium-ion cells and the expansion of renewable energy capacity.
Currently, China has 215.5 GWh of installed capacity and an ambitious 505.6 GWh project pipeline. The U.S. follows with 82.1 GWh installed and 162.5 GWh planned.
| Top BESS Markets | Installed 2024 (GWh) | 2027P |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 215.5 | 721.2 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 82.1 | 244.6 |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 7.5 | 56.3 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 5.6 | 102.9 |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | 3.8 | 41.0 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 2.2 | 7.9 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 1.3 | 32.4 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 1.3 | 9.4 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1.0 | 6.1 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 1.0 | 6.2 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 0.8 | 4.6 |
| 🇫🇷 France | 0.6 | 1.8 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 0.7 | 5.3 |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 0.6 | 5.9 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 0.6 | 1.5 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 0.5 | 4.3 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 0.3 | 18.3 |
Canada is projected to be the fastest-growing market through 2027, with its cumulative capacity hitting 18.3 GWh—a significant increase from its current 0.3 GWh capacity.
Countries such as Australia (97.3 GWh pipeline), Saudi Arabia (31.1 GWh), and Chile (37.2 GWh) have relatively small current installations but plan substantial expansions. Within Europe, the UK leads with 7.5 GWh of installed capacity and 48.7 GWh in the pipeline, while Italy, Germany, France, and Belgium show steady but more modest growth.
Despite being technological leaders, Japan (4 GWh pipeline) and South Korea (0.3 GWh) have relatively low planned BESS expansions.
According to Rho Motion, China will remain the dominant player in 2027, but its share of the total market is expected to decline to just over 50% based on the current project pipeline.
While the BESS market is expanding, challenges remain, including grid connection bottlenecks and the development of revenue streams in emerging markets.
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