How does the Three Gorges Dam generate electricity?

The Three Gorges Dam generates electricity by utilizing the flow of the Yangtze River to power a massive hydroelectric plant. The dam functions as a concrete gravity structure that impounds water to create an immense deepwater reservoir, providing the necessary head of water to drive the facility's power-generating equipment.1

The electricity production is facilitated by 34 turbine generator units—consisting of 32 main units and 2 additional generators—which became fully operational by 2012. As water is released from the reservoir, it flows through these turbines, converting the kinetic energy of the moving water into electrical energy. This system gives the dam a total generating capacity of 22,500 megawatts, making it the most productive hydroelectric facility in the world. In 2020, the plant achieved a record annual production of 111.88 terawatt-hours.1