This article lists the largest power stations in the world, the ten overall and the five of each type, in terms of installed electrical capacity. Non-renewable power stations are those that run on coal, fuel oils, nuclear fuel, natural gas, oil shale and peat, while renewable power stations run on fuel sources such as biomass, geothermal heat, hydro, solar energy, solar heat, tides and the wind. Only the most significant fuel source is listed for power stations that run on multiple sources.
As of 2021, the largest power generating facility ever built is the Three Gorges Dam in China. The facility generates power by utilizing 32 Francis turbines each having a capacity of 700 MW and two 50 MW turbines,[1] totalling the installed capacity to 22,500 MW, more than twice the installed capacity of the largest nuclear power station, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa (Japan) at 7,965 MW. As of 2019, no power station comparable to Three Gorges is under construction, as the largest under construction power station is the hydroelectric Baihetan Dam (16,000 MW).[2]
The proposed 20,000 MW Australia's Darwin Solar Park, for the Australia-Asia Power Link, would be slightly below the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam.[3][4] The proposed Grand Inga Dam in the Congo would surpass all existing power stations, including the Three Gorges Dam, if construction commences as planned. The design targets to top 39,000 MW in installed capacity, nearly twice that of the Three Gorges.[5][6][7] Another proposal, Penzhin Tidal Power Plant Project, presumes an installed capacity up to 87,100 MW.
At any point in time since the early 20th century, the largest power station in the world has been a hydroelectric power plant.
Held record | Name of power station | Capacity (MW) |
Location | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
From | To | ||||
1904 | 1911 | Niagara Power Plant | 104 | ![]() |
[45] |
1911 | 1913 | Vemork | 108 | ![]() |
[46][47] |
1913 | 1914 | Lock and Dam No. 19 | 142 | ![]() |
[48] |
1914 | 1924 | Niagara Power Plant | 201 | ![]() |
[49] |
1924 | 1939 | Sir Adam Beck Station I | 348.6-498[50] | ![]() |
[51] |
1939 | 1949 | Hoover Dam | 705 | ![]() |
[52][53] |
1949 | 1959 | Grand Coulee Dam | 2,280 | ![]() |
|
1959 | 1963 | Volga Hydroelectric Station | 2,300–2,563 | ![]() |
[54] |
1963 | 1971 | Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station | 2,750–4,500 | ![]() |
[55] |
1971 | 1983 | Krasnoyarsk Dam | 5,000–6,000 | ![]() |
[56] |
1983 | 1986 | Grand Coulee Dam | 6,181–6,809 | ![]() |
[57] |
1986 | 1989 | Guri Dam | 10,235 | ![]() |
|
1989 | 2007 | Itaipu Dam | 10,500–14,000 | ![]() ![]() |
|
2007 | present | Three Gorges Dam | 14,100–22,500 | ![]() |
See also: Coal and List of coal-fired power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tuoketuo | ![]() |
40°11′49″N 111°21′52″E / 40.19694°N 111.36444°E | 6,720 | [35][36] |
2. | Taean | ![]() |
36°54′20.2″N 126°14′4.9″E / 36.905611°N 126.234694°E | 6,100 | [58] |
3. | Dangjin | ![]() |
37°03′19″N 126°30′35″E / 37.05528°N 126.50972°E | 6,040 | [59][58] |
4. | Taichung | ![]() |
24°12′46″N 120°28′52″E / 24.21278°N 120.48111°E | 5,500 | [60][61] Uses bituminous coal |
5. | Waigaoqiao | ![]() |
31°21′21″N 121°35′54″E / 31.35583°N 121.59833°E | 5,160 | [62] |
6. | Bełchatów | ![]() |
51°15′59″N 19°19′50″E / 51.26639°N 19.33056°E | 5,102 | [63] Uses lignite |
7. | Yeongheung | ![]() |
37°14′17″N 126°26′09″E / 37.23806°N 126.43583°E | 5,080 | [64] |
8. | Guodian Beilun | ![]() |
29°56′37″N 121°48′57″E / 29.94361°N 121.81583°E | 5,060 | [65] |
9. | Guohua Taishan | ![]() |
21°52′00″N 112°55′22″E / 21.86667°N 112.92278°E | 5,000 | [66][67] |
Jiaxing | 30°37′46″N 121°08′49″E / 30.62944°N 121.14694°E | ||||
10. | Vindhyachal | ![]() |
24°05′53″N 82°40′18″E / 24.09806°N 82.67167°E | 4,760 | [68] |
See also: Fuel oil |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Shoaiba | ![]() |
20°40′48″N 39°31′24″E / 20.68000°N 39.52333°E | 5,600 | [69] |
2. | Ghazlan | ![]() |
26°51′15″N 49°53′56″E / 26.85417°N 49.89889°E | 4,528[70] | [71] |
3. | Kashima | ![]() |
35°52′47″N 140°41′22″E / 35.87972°N 140.68944°E | 4,400[72] | [73] |
4. | Anegasaki | ![]() |
35°29′06″N 140°01′00″E / 35.48500°N 140.01667°E | 3,600[70] | [73] |
5. | Qurayyah | ![]() |
25°50′40″N 50°7′31″E / 25.84444°N 50.12528°E | 3,927[70] | [74][75] |
6. | Yokohama | ![]() |
35°28′36″N 139°40′44″E / 35.47667°N 139.67889°E | 3,379[70] | [73] |
7. | Hirono | ![]() |
37°14′18″N 141°01′04″E / 37.23833°N 141.01778°E | 3,200[72] | [73] |
8. | Sabiya I | ![]() |
2,400 | [76] | |
8. | Az Zour South | ![]() |
2,400 | [77] | |
8. | Doha West | ![]() |
2,400 | [78] |
See also: Natural gas and List of natural gas power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Plant | ![]() |
25°03′35″N 55°07′02″E / 25.05972°N 55.11722°E | 8,695 | [22] |
2. | Surgut-2 | ![]() |
61°16′46″N 73°30′45″E / 61.27944°N 73.51250°E | 5,687[79] | [80][81] |
3. | Futtsu | ![]() |
35°20′35″N 139°50′02″E / 35.34306°N 139.83389°E | 5,040 | [73] |
4. | Tatan | ![]() |
25°01′34″N 121°02′50″E / 25.02611°N 121.04722°E | 4,986 | [82] |
5. | Kawagoe | ![]() |
35°00′25″N 136°41′20″E / 35.00694°N 136.68889°E | 4,802 | [81] |
6. | Burullus Power Station(German) | ![]() |
31°31′46″N 30°48′32″E / 31.52944°N 30.80889°E | 4,800 | [83] |
7. | Higashi-Niigata | ![]() |
37°59′58″N 139°14′29″E / 37.99944°N 139.24139°E | 4,780 | [84] |
8. | Chiba | ![]() |
35°33′57″N 140°06′20″E / 35.56583°N 140.10556°E | 4,380 | [73] |
9. | Himeji | ![]() |
34°46′24″N 134°41′38″E / 34.77333°N 134.69389°E | 4,086 | [85][86] |
10. | Phú Mỹ | ![]() |
10°36′20″N 107°02′12″E / 10.60556°N 107.03667°E | 3,900 | [87] |
See also: Nuclear power and List of nuclear power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | Kashiwazaki-Kariwa | ![]() |
37°25′45″N 138°35′43″E / 37.42917°N 138.59528°E | 7,965 (out of service since 2011) | [24][25][26] |
1. | Kori | ![]() |
35°19′40″N 129°18′03″E / 35.32778°N 129.30083°E | 7,489 | [88] |
2. | Hanul | ![]() |
37°05′34″N 129°23′01″E / 37.09278°N 129.38361°E | 7,268 | [32] |
3. | Bruce | ![]() |
44°19′31″N 81°35′58″W / 44.32528°N 81.59944°W | 6,610 | [89] |
4. | Hongyanhe | ![]() |
39°48′7″N 121°28′30″E / 39.80194°N 121.47500°E | 6,366 | [44] |
5. | Fuqing | ![]() |
25°26′45″N 119°26′50″E / 25.44583°N 119.44722°E | 6,120 | [90] |
6. | Tianwan | ![]() |
34°41′13″N 119°27′35″E / 34.68694°N 119.45972°E | 6,100 | [91] |
7. | Yangjiang | ![]() |
21°42′35″N 112°15′38″E / 21.70972°N 112.26056°E | 6,000 | [90] |
8. | Hanbit | ![]() |
35°24′54″N 126°25′26″E / 35.41500°N 126.42389°E | 5,875 | [32] |
- | Zaporizhzhia | ![]() |
47°30′44″N 34°35′09″E / 47.51222°N 34.58583°E | 5,700 (out of service since 2022) | [92][93] |
See also: Oil shale |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Eesti | ![]() |
59°16′10″N 27°54′08″E / 59.26944°N 27.90222°E | 1,615 | [94][95] |
2. | Balti | ![]() |
59°21′12″N 28°07′22″E / 59.35333°N 28.12278°E | 765 | [94][95] |
3. | Auvere | ![]() |
59°21′12″N 28°7′22″E / 59.35333°N 28.12278°E | 300 | |
4. | Huadian | ![]() |
100 | [96] | |
5. | Kohtla-Järve | ![]() |
59°23′45″N 27°14′31″E / 59.39583°N 27.24194°E | 39 |
See also: Peat |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Shatura | ![]() |
55°35′00″N 39°33′40″E / 55.58333°N 39.56111°E | 1,500 | [note 1][citation needed] |
2. | Kirov | ![]() |
58°37′16″N 49°35′47″E / 58.62111°N 49.59639°E | 300 | [97] |
3. | Keljonlahti | ![]() |
62°11′33″N 25°44′14″E / 62.19250°N 25.73722°E | 209 | [98] |
4. | Toppila | ![]() |
65°02′15″N 25°26′07″E / 65.03750°N 25.43528°E | 190 | [98] |
5. | Haapavesi | ![]() |
64°07′19″N 25°24′47″E / 64.12194°N 25.41306°E | 154 | [100] |
Rank | Station | Country | Geographic coordinate system | Capacity (MW) | Main fuel | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Drax (units 1–4) | ![]() |
53°44′8.9″N 0°59′47.0″W / 53.735806°N 0.996389°W | 2,595 | pellet fuel | [101] |
2. | Alholmens Kraft | ![]() |
63°42′07″N 22°42′35″E / 63.70194°N 22.70972°E | 265 | forest residue | [102] |
3. | Maasvlakte 3 | ![]() |
51°54′45″N 4°1′16″E / 51.91250°N 4.02111°E | 220 | biomass | [103][note 1] |
4. | Połaniec | ![]() |
50°26′14″N 21°20′14″E / 50.43722°N 21.33722°E | 225 | woodchips | [103] |
5. | Atikokan Generating Station | ![]() |
48°50′17″N 91°34′15″W / 48.83806°N 91.57083°W | 205 | biomass | [104] |
6. | Rodenhuize | ![]() |
51°8′4.88″N 3°46′35.94″E / 51.1346889°N 3.7766500°E | 180 | wood pellet | [105] |
7. | Kymijärvi II | ![]() |
160 | RDF | [106] | |
8. | Ashdown Paper Mill | ![]() |
157 | black liquor | [107] | |
9. | Wisapower | ![]() |
150 | black liquor | [103] | |
10. | Vaasa | ![]() |
140 | biomass | [106] |
See also: Geothermal power and List of geothermal power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | The Geysers | ![]() |
38°47′26″N 122°45′21″W / 38.79056°N 122.75583°W | 1,517 | [108] |
2. | Cerro Prieto | ![]() |
32°23′57″N 115°14′19″W / 32.39917°N 115.23861°W | 820 | [109][110][111] |
3. | Larderello | ![]() |
43°13′56″N 10°53′07″E / 43.23222°N 10.88528°E | 769 | [112] |
4. | Olkaria | ![]() |
0°53′14″S 36°18′25″E / 0.88722°S 36.30694°E | 727 | [113] |
5. | Imperial Valley | ![]() |
33°09′48″N 115°37′00″W / 33.16333°N 115.61667°W | 403.4 | [114] |
6. | Sarulla | ![]() |
1°53′14″N 99°01′24″E / 1.88722°N 99.02333°E | 330 | [115][116] |
6. | Tiwi | ![]() |
13°27′34″N 123°38′21″E / 13.45944°N 123.63917°E | 330 | [117][118] |
8. | Hellisheiði | ![]() |
64°02′14″N 21°24′03″W / 64.03722°N 21.40083°W | 303 | |
9. | Coso | ![]() |
36°01′00″N 117°47′51″W / 36.01667°N 117.79750°W | 270 | [119] |
10. | Darajat | ![]() |
7°13′05″S 107°43′38″E / 7.21806°S 107.72722°E | 255 |
See also: List of largest hydroelectric power stations and List of conventional hydroelectric power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Three Gorges | ![]() |
30°49′15″N 111°00′08″E / 30.82083°N 111.00222°E | 22,500 | [1] |
2. | Baihetan Dam | ![]() |
27°13′07″N 102°54′22″E / 27.21861°N 102.90611°E | 16,000 | [10][120] |
3. | Itaipu | ![]() ![]() |
25°24′31″S 54°35′21″W / 25.40861°S 54.58917°W | 14,000 | [12][13] |
4. | Xiluodu | ![]() |
28°15′52″N 103°38′47″E / 28.26444°N 103.64639°E | 13,860 | [121] |
5. | Belo Monte | ![]() |
03°07′27″S 51°42′01″W / 3.12417°S 51.70028°W | 11,233 | [18] |
6. | Guri | ![]() |
07°45′59″N 62°59′57″W / 7.76639°N 62.99917°W | 10,235 | [20] |
7. | Wudongde | ![]() |
26°19′29.4″N 102°38′2.2″E / 26.324833°N 102.633944°E | 10,200 | [122] |
8. | Tucuruí | ![]() |
03°49′53″S 49°38′36″W / 3.83139°S 49.64333°W | 8,370 | |
9. | Xiangjiaba | ![]() |
28°38′57″N 104°22′14″E / 28.64917°N 104.37056°E | 7,798 | [28][29] |
10. | Grand Coulee | ![]() |
47°57′23″N 118°58′56″W / 47.95639°N 118.98222°W | 6,809 | [33] |
See also: Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity and List of run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Jirau | ![]() |
9°15′0″S 64°24′0″W / 9.25000°S 64.40000°W | 3,750 | [123] |
2. | Santo Antonio | ![]() |
8°48′6″S 63°57′3″W / 8.80167°S 63.95083°W | 3,568 | [124] |
3. | Gezhouba Water Control & Hydroelectric Project | ![]() |
30°44′23″N 111°16′20″E / 30.73972°N 111.27222°E | 2,715 | [125] |
4. | Chief Joseph | ![]() |
47°59′43″N 119°38′00″W / 47.99528°N 119.63333°W | 2,620 | |
5. | John Day | ![]() |
45°52′49″N 120°41′40″W / 45.88028°N 120.69444°W | 2,160 | [126] |
See also: Tidal power and List of tidal power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sihwa Lake | ![]() |
37°18′47″N 126°36′46″E / 37.31306°N 126.61278°E | 254 | |
2. | Rance | ![]() |
48°37′05″N 02°01′24″W / 48.61806°N 2.02333°W | 240 | |
3. | Annapolis Royal | ![]() |
44°45′07″N 65°30′40″W / 44.75194°N 65.51111°W | 20 (out of service since 2019) | [127] |
4. | Jiangxia | ![]() |
28°20′34″N 121°14′25″E / 28.34278°N 121.24028°E | 3.9 | [128] |
5. | Kislaya Guba | ![]() |
69°22′37″N 33°04′34″E / 69.37694°N 33.07611°E | 1.7 |
See also: Solar power and Lists of solar power stations |
See also: PV system and List of photovoltaic power stations |
See also: Concentrated solar power and List of solar thermal power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Ouarzazate | ![]() |
30°59′40″N 06°51′48″W / 30.99444°N 6.86333°W | 510 | [149] |
2. | Ivanpah | ![]() |
35°34′N 115°28′W / 35.567°N 115.467°W | 392 | [150] |
3. | Solana | ![]() |
32°55′N 112°58′W / 32.917°N 112.967°W | 280 | [151] |
3. | Genesis | ![]() |
33°38′38″N 114°59′17″W / 33.64389°N 114.98806°W | 280 | [152] |
3. | Mojave Solar Project | ![]() |
35°00′40″N 117°19′30″W / 35.01111°N 117.32500°W | 280 | [153][154][155] |
6. | Solaben | ![]() |
39°13′29″N 5°23′26″W / 39.22472°N 5.39056°W | 200 | [156] |
7. | SEGS | ![]() |
35°01′54″N 117°20′53″W / 35.03167°N 117.34806°W | 160 | [157] |
8. | Solnova | ![]() |
37°25′00″N 06°17′20″W / 37.41667°N 6.28889°W | 150 | |
8. | Andasol | ![]() |
37°13′43″N 03°04′07″W / 37.22861°N 3.06861°W | 150 | [158][159] |
8. | Extresol | ![]() |
38°39′N 6°44′W / 38.650°N 6.733°W | 150 | [160][161] |
See also: Wind power |
Main article: List of onshore wind farms |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Gansu | ![]() |
40°12′00″N 96°54′00″E / 40.20000°N 96.90000°E | 7,965 | [27] |
2. | Alta | ![]() |
35°1′16″N 118°19′14″W / 35.02111°N 118.32056°W | 1,548 | [27] |
3. | Muppandal Wind Farm | ![]() |
8°15′39″N 77°32′19″E / 8.260706°N 77.538575°E | 1,500 | [162] |
4. | Jaisalmer | ![]() |
26°55′12″N 70°54′00″E / 26.92000°N 70.90000°E | 1,064 | [27] |
5. | Los Vientos Wind Farm | ![]() |
26°19′51″N 97°35′09″W / 26.33083°N 97.58583°W | 912 | [163] |
6. | Shepherds Flat | ![]() |
45°42′00″N 120°03′36″W / 45.70000°N 120.06000°W | 845 | [164] |
7. | Meadow Lake Wind Farm | ![]() |
40°36′4″N 86°51′57″W / 40.60111°N 86.86583°W | 801 | [165] |
8. | Roscoe | ![]() |
32°26′41″N 100°34′23″W / 32.44472°N 100.57306°W | 782 | [166][167][unreliable source?] |
9. | Horse Hollow | ![]() |
32°19′00″N 99°59′59″W / 32.31667°N 99.99972°W | 736 | [168][169] |
10. | Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm | ![]() |
35°06′08″N 118°16′58″W / 35.10222°N 118.28278°W | 705 | [170] |
Main article: List of offshore wind farms |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Hornsea 2 | ![]() |
53°54′36.0″N 1°33′6.5″E / 53.910000°N 1.551806°E | 1,386 | [171][172] |
2. | Hornsea 1 | ![]() |
53°53′06″N 1°47′28″E / 53.885°N 1.791°E | 1,218 | [173][174] |
3. | Seagreen | ![]() |
56°35′17″N 1°44′28″W / 56.58806°N 1.74111°W | 1,075 | [175] |
4. | Moray East | ![]() |
58°10′1.49″N 2°41′54.67″W / 58.1670806°N 2.6985194°W | 950 | [176] |
5. | Triton Knoll | ![]() |
53°24′N 0°54′E / 53.400°N 0.900°E | 857 | [177][178] |
6. | Hollandse Kust Noord | ![]() |
52°42′54.4″N 4°15′3.6″E / 52.715111°N 4.251000°E | 759 | [179] |
7. | Borssele I & II | ![]() |
51°42′10″N 3°4′34″E / 51.70278°N 3.07611°E | 752 | [180][181] |
8. | Borssele III & IV | ![]() |
51°42′25.2″N 2°54′44.6″E / 51.707000°N 2.912389°E | 735.1 | [182][183] |
9. | East Anglia ONE | ![]() |
52°39′57″N 2°17′44″E / 52.66583°N 2.29556°E | 714 | [184][185] |
10. | Walney Extension | ![]() |
54°2′38″N 3°31′19″W / 54.04389°N 3.52194°W | 659 | [186][187][188] |
See also: Pumped-storage hydroelectricity and List of pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fengning | ![]() |
41°40′34″N 116°32′58″E / 41.67611°N 116.54944°E | 3,600 | [189] |
2. | Bath County | ![]() |
38°12′32″N 79°48′00″W / 38.20889°N 79.80000°W | 3,003 | [190] |
3. | Huizhou | ![]() |
23°16′07″N 114°18′50″E / 23.26861°N 114.31389°E | 2,448 | [191] |
4. | Guangdong | ![]() |
23°45′52″N 113°57′12″E / 23.76444°N 113.95333°E | 2,400 | [192][193] |
5. | Ludington | ![]() |
43°53′37″N 86°26′43″W / 43.89361°N 86.44528°W | 2,172 | [194] |
See also: Battery storage power station |
Rank | Station | Country | Location | Capacity (MW) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Manatee Energy Storage Center | ![]() |
409 | [195] | |
2. | Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility | ![]() |
36°48′17.54″N 121°46′55.19″W / 36.8048722°N 121.7819972°W | 400 | [196] |
3. | Victorian Big Battery | ![]() |
38°2′24″S 144°17′24″E / 38.04000°S 144.29000°E | 300 | [197] |
4. | DeCordova Energy Storage Facility | ![]() |
260 | [198] | |
5. | Gateway Energy Storage | ![]() |
32°34′14″N 116°54′39″W / 32.57056°N 116.91083°W | 250 | [199] |
See also: Thermal energy storage § Molten salt technology, and List of solar thermal power stations |
The following table lists the largest operating power station, and the largest single generating unit within each country.