How does the Three Gorges Dam generate hydroelectric power?

The Three Gorges Dam generates hydroelectric power by harnessing the potential energy of the Yangtze River. The process follows the standard principles of hydroelectric generation:1

• Water Storage: The dam impounds the river, creating a deepwater reservoir that raises the water level to a higher elevation, establishing a "head"—the vertical distance between the reservoir and the lower river level.21
• Flow and Rotation: Water is directed downward from the reservoir through large pipes or tunnels known as penstocks. As the water exits these pipes, its force causes massive turbines to rotate.1
• Electricity Generation: These rotating turbines are connected to generators, which convert the mechanical energy of the spinning motion into electricity.1
• Transmission: The generated electricity is processed through transformers to increase the voltage, making it suitable for long-distance transmission to power grids.1

By 2012, all 32 main turbine generator units, along with two additional generators, were operational, giving the facility a total capacity of 22,500 megawatts.2