Though with a much smaller installed capacity, Brazil's Itaipu hydroelectric plant has long been the champion of world hydropower generation. It generated 98.6 billion kwh of electricity in 2013. The China Three Gorges Corporation said 98.8 billion kwh is the equivalent of saving 49 million tonnes of coal consumption and preventing the emissions of carbon dioxide by 100 million tonnes.

The Three Gorges Power Plant, the world's largest hydropower station, has an installed capacity of 22.5 million kw. The Itaipu hydroelectric plant has an installed capacity of 14 million kw.