China’s 22,000-megawatt, $25 billion Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest hydroelectric plant as far as generating capacity. It is now drawing comparisons to the Great Wall of China because of how incredible of an engineering masterpiece it is.
The dam is absolutely massive, 21 million cubic yards of concrete and 463,000 tons of rolled steel.
China pouring money into the hydro power industry has led to the country having a reputation for relatively low energy prices, which will only get better because of the 19 hydroelectric power stations currently being built all over the world. Eight are being constructed in China.
For perspective on how big the The Gorges Dam is, the 21 million cubic yards of concrete used to construct the monster dam is a world record and the steel used is enough to build 63 Eiffel Towers.
That’s unreal!
