Hydro power plants,
mapped.
The catalog has 4,905 operating hydro power plants, 1,278,990 MW in all. It also marks 37 hydro plants as Retired, with 12,293 MW of capacity. Hydro ranks 3rd by operating capacity and represents 14.8% of all operating capacity in the catalog. China leads with 372,489 MW of operating hydro capacity, followed by Brazil and United States. The largest operating hydro facility in the catalog is Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Plant (22,500 MW, China, recorded start year 2012).
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Largest hydro plants
Largest operating facilities by installed capacity in the catalog.
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Most hydro capacity by country
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Newest hydro plants
This table includes 10 of the 41 operating plants with a recorded start year of 2025, largest first. The catalog records years, not full commissioning dates.
Source: Global Energy Monitor, Global Integrated Power Tracker, March 2026 release II. Catalog content date: .
Frequently asked questions
How many hydro power plants are tracked in nrgmap?
The catalog tracks 4,905 operating hydro power plants with 1,278,990 MW in all, representing 14.8% of operating capacity. It also marks 37 plants as Retired, with 12,293 MW of capacity.
What is the largest tracked hydro plant in the world?
The largest operating hydro plant in the catalog is Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Plant in China, with 22,500 MW of installed capacity and a recorded start year of 2012.
Which country has the most hydro capacity?
China leads with 372,489 MW of operating hydro capacity across 1,006 plants in the catalog. Brazil is second at 109,667 MW.
How old are hydro power plants in the dataset?
Operating hydro plants with a recorded start year in the catalog range from 1896 to 2025. The source records year precision, not full commissioning dates.
How can I explore hydro plants on the map?
Open nrgmap at app.nrgmap.com and use the fuel filter to display hydro plants. Each plant marker shows catalog capacity and recorded start year when available. The operating catalog has hydro plants in 132 countries and territories.