A new record-breaking hydroelectric power station is set to emerge, generating 3 billion kilowatt-hours annually on Earth.

The "Three Gorges" Dam, spanning the Yangtze River in China, is currently the world leader in installed capacity and annual hydroelectric power generation. According to scientists, the dam produces between 95 to 112 terawatt-hours (TWh). However, it now seems that a new record holder may emerge on Earth — China has approved the construction of the world's largest hydroelectric power station, reports New Atlas.

The new large-scale hydroelectric power station is expected to be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, near the border with India. The project's cost will be $137 billion, and it will be part of China's 14th "Five-Year Plan." Notably, the plan includes environmental goals aimed at accelerating the use of renewable energy sources and combating pollution.

The location of the new dam is anticipated to take advantage of the steep terrain of the river to generate an unprecedented amount of electricity, reaching 300 billion kilowatt-hours per year. To put this into perspective, this is enough to serve 300 million people in China, which is nearly three times more than the current record holder, the "Three Gorges" Dam.

For example, the largest power station in the United States, the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington, is one of the largest concrete structures in the world and produces only 20 TWh per year. The Hoover Dam, located on the border of Nevada and Arizona, generates just 4.2 TWh.

The Yarlung Tsangpo River, which becomes the Brahmaputra when it flows into India, is one of the highest rivers on the planet. It originates from the Angsi Glacier in the Tibet Autonomous Region and is only partially responsible for the formation of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. Researchers know that the region is situated on tectonic plates, making it regularly susceptible to earthquakes, and it is one of the deepest canyons in the world — reaching a maximum depth of 6,009 meters. The canyon stretches 504.6 km, making it longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Experts note that all of this gives the Yarlung Tsangpo River a drop of approximately 7,667 meters from its highest point to India, effectively making it one of the most "hydropower-rich" rivers in the world. Experts also point out that the area near Mount Namcha Barwa is an ideal location for building a hydroelectric power station, as the elevation difference here is 2,000 meters.

It is known that building a dam at this location will require drilling several tunnels to divert water, with a total length of about 20 kilometers. The water flow rate in this area is 2,000 cubic meters — for comparison, this is enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools in just one second.

At the same time, Indian authorities have expressed concerns regarding the construction of the world's largest hydroelectric station. In particular, Indian officials are worried about China's control over the river's flow and the potential impact this may have on the border between the two countries.

In response, Chinese officials stated that extensive geological studies were conducted in the seismically active zone before the construction plan was approved — the results indicate that the construction of the giant can be completed safely. However, the timeline for building the world's largest power station has not yet been announced.