Editing Three Gorges Dam (section)

== Power generation and distribution ==

=== Generating capacity ===
[[File:Electricity production in China.svg|thumb|Electricity production in China by source. Compare: The fully completed Three Gorges dam contributes about 100&nbsp;TWh of generation per year.|upright=1.3]]
[[File:China hydroelectricity production.svg|thumb|Three Gorges Dam compared to all other Chinese hydroelectricity production|upright=1.3]]
Power generation is managed by [[China Yangtze Power]], a listed subsidiary of [[China Three Gorges Corporation]] (CTGC), a [[State-owned enterprise|Central Enterprise]] administered by [[SASAC]]. The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest capacity hydroelectric power station, with 34&nbsp;generators: 32 main generators, each with a capacity of 700&nbsp;MW, and two plant power generators, each with capacity of 50&nbsp;MW, for a total of 22,500&nbsp;MW.<ref name="iet2009" /> Among the 32 main generators, 14 are installed on the dam's north side, 12 on the south side, and the remaining six in the [[underground power plant]] in the mountain south of the dam. Annual electricity generation in 2018 was 101.6&nbsp;TWh,<ref name="auto" /> which is 20 times more than the [[Hoover Dam]].<ref>{{cite web | access-date=October 8, 2019 | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2006/06/china-three-gorges-dam-how-big/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114115058/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2006/06/china-three-gorges-dam-how-big/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 14, 2019 | title=China's Three Gorges Dam, by the Numbers | date=June 9, 2006 | website=Science}}</ref>

=== Generators ===
The main generators each weigh about 6,000&nbsp;tonnes and are designed to produce more than 700&nbsp;MW of power each. The designed [[hydraulic head]] of the generators is {{convert|80.6|m}}. The flow rate varies between {{convert|600|-|950|m3/s}} depending on the head available; the greater the head, the less water needed to reach full power. Three Gorges uses [[Francis turbine]]s with a diameter of 9.7/10.4&nbsp;m (VGS design/Alstom's design) and a rotation speed of 75&nbsp;revolutions per minute. This means that in order to generate power at 50&nbsp;[[Hz]], the generator rotors have 80 poles. Rated power is 778 [[Volt ampere|MVA]], with a maximum of 840&nbsp;MVA and a [[power factor]] of 0.9. The generator produces electrical power at 20&nbsp;[[Volt|kV]]. The electricity generated is then stepped up to 500&nbsp;kV for transmission at 50&nbsp;Hz. The generator's [[stator]], the biggest of its kind, is 3.1/3&nbsp;m in height; the outer diameter of the stator is 21.4/20.9&nbsp;m, the inner diameter is 18.5/18.8&nbsp;m, and the bearing load is 5,050/5,500 tonnes. Average efficiency is over 94%, with a maximum efficiency of 96.5% reached.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 28, 2008 |agency=Xinhua News Agency |access-date=December 6, 2008 | language=zh |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |script-title=zh:李永安:我水轮发电机组已具完全自主设计制造能力_财经频道_新华网 | trans-title=Li Yongan: Our hydroelectric generator set has completely independent design and manufacture capabilities | url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-08/28/content_9723523_2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207040501/http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-08/28/content_9723523_2.htm  |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |first1=Matthew |last1=Morioka |url=http://www.eng.hawaii.edu/~panos/444_09_4_9.pdf |title=Three Gorges Dam |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307101739/http://www.eng.hawaii.edu/~panos/444_09_4_9.pdf |last2=Abrishamkar |first2=Alireza |last3=Kay |id=CEE 491 |first3=Yve |url-status=live |website=eng.hawaii.edu}}</ref>
[[File:Sanxia Runner04 300.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Francis turbine]] at Three Gorges Dam]]

The generators were manufactured by two joint ventures: [[Alstom]], [[ABB]], [[Kvaerner]], and the Chinese company Harbin Motor; and [[Voith]], [[General Electric]], [[Siemens]] (abbreviated as VGS), and the Chinese company Oriental Motor. The technology transfer agreement was signed together with the contract. Most of the generators are water-cooled. Some of the newer ones are air-cooled, making them simpler in design and easier to manufacture and maintain.<ref name="Chinacom20020726">{{cite news  |url=http://www.chinaccm.com/23/2307/230701/news/20020726/105549.asp |title=三峡工程及其水电机组概况 |publisher=中华商务网讯 |date=July 26, 2002 |access-date=April 11, 2008 | language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207034132/http://www.chinaccm.com/23/2307/230701/news/20020726/105549.asp |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |trans-title=Three Gorges Project and water and electricity unit survey |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Generator installation progress ===
The first north-side main generator (No.&nbsp;2) started up on July 10, 2003. The north side became completely operational on September 7, 2005, with the implementation of generator No.&nbsp;9. Full power (9,800&nbsp;MW) was eventually achieved on October 18, 2006, after the water level reached 156&nbsp;meters.<ref>{{cite news | archive-date=May 31, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531164747/http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2006-10/18/content_416256.htm | url=http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2006-10/18/content_416256.htm | title=Three Gorges Dam | publisher=Government of China | date=October 18, 2006 | access-date=May 15, 2007 | language=zh | url-status=live}}</ref>

On the south side, main generator No.&nbsp;22 started up on June 11, 2007, and No.&nbsp;15 became operational on October 30, 2008.<ref name="ctgpc1" /> The sixth (No.&nbsp;17) began operation on December 18, 2007, raising capacity to 14.1&nbsp;GW, exceeding that of Itaipu dam (14.0&nbsp;GW) to become the world's largest hydro power plant by capacity.<ref name="Ctgpc20080505">{{cite news | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=28253 | language=zh | script-title=zh:中国长江三峡工程开发总公司 | publisher=[[China Three Gorges Corporation]] | website=ctgpc.com.cn | date=May 5, 2008 | access-date=August 9, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207081802/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=28253 | archive-date=December 7, 2008 | trans-title=The stability of domestically produced large-scale generator sets continues to improve | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | publisher=China Three Gorges Corporation | website=ctgpc.com.cn |date=June 20, 2008 | access-date=December 6, 2008 | language=zh | archive-date=December 7, 2008 | script-title=zh:三峡右岸电站19号机组完成72小时试运行 | trans-title=Unit 19 of the Three Gorges Right Bank Power Station has completed a 72-hour test run |url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=28982 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207081809/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=28982 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29089 | language=zh | script-title=zh:中国长江三峡工程开发总公司 | trans-title=Unit 16 of Three Gorges Right Bank Power Station put into operation | publisher=China Three Gorges Corporation | website=ctgpc.com.cn | date=July 4, 2008 | access-date=August 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210074930/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29089 | archive-date=February 10, 2009 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | publisher=China Three Gorges Corporation | website=ctgpc.com.cn | date=August 22, 2008 | access-date=December 6, 2008 | language=zh | archive-date=January 20, 2012 | script-title=zh:三峡23号机组进入72小时试运行 | trans-title=Three Gorges Unit 23 enters 72-hour trial operation | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29622 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120120009/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29622 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

When the last main generator (No. 27) finished its final test on May 23, 2012, the six underground main generators were all operational, raising the capacity to 22.5 GW.<ref name="autogenerated5" /> After nine years of construction, installation and testing, the power plant was fully operational by July 2012.<ref name=inventspot /><ref>{{cite web | language=zh | script-title=zh:三峡地下电站30号机组充水启动 | trans-title=Unit No. 30 of Three Gorges Underground Power Station filled with water and started up | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/xwzx/news.php?mnewsid=48315 | publisher=Three Gorges Corporation | date=July 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012036/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/xwzx/news.php?mnewsid=48315 | archive-date=July 14, 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | archive-date=October 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004153446/http://finance.ifeng.com/stock/roll/20110704/4224188.shtml | url=http://finance.ifeng.com/stock/roll/20110704/4224188.shtml | title=Three Gorges underground power station water-filled start the third unit successfully put into operation in July plans | publisher=Fenghuang Wang | access-date=July 10, 2011 | language=zh | url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Output milestones ===
{| class="wikitable floatleft" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Annual production of electricity
|-
! Year
! Number of<br />installed units
! TWh
! Reference
|-
| 2003
| 6
| 8.607 ||
|-
| 2004
| 11
| 39.155 ||
|-
| 2005
| 14
| 49.090 ||
|-
| 2006
| 14
| 49.250 ||
|-
| 2007
| 21
| 61.600 ||
|-
| 2008
| 26
| 80.812 ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cepn.sp.com.cn/bwtj/200901/t20090109_268374.htm | language=zh | script-title=zh:中国电力新闻网 – 电力行业的门户网站 | publisher=Cepn.sp.com.cn | access-date=August 1, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
| 2009
| 26
| 79.470 ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chinaequip.gov.cn/2010-01/08/c_13130850.htm | language=zh | script-title=zh:国家重大技术装备 | publisher=Chinaequip.gov.cn | date=January 8, 2010 | access-date=August 20, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429081818/http://www.chinaequip.gov.cn/2010-01/08/c_13130850.htm | archive-date=April 29, 2010 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2010
| 26
| 84.370 ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/xwzx/news.php?mnewsid=45908 | language=zh | script-title=zh:峡 – 葛洲坝梯级电站全年发电1006.1亿千瓦时 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901062618/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/xwzx/news.php?mnewsid=45908 | archive-date=September 1, 2011 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2011
| 29
| 78.290 ||<ref>{{cite web | access-date=January 12, 2012 | archive-date=October 23, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061713/http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/01/07/1461s675113.htm | url=http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/01/07/1461s675113.htm | title=Three Gorges Project Generates 78.29 Bln Kwh of Electricity in 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
| 32
|98.100||<ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite web | access-date=January 19, 2013 | archive-date=January 20, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120060226/http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2013-01/14/content_2311905.htm | url=http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2013-01/14/content_2311905.htm | language=zh | script-title=zh:2012年三峡工程建设与运行管理成效十分显著 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2013
| 32
|83.270 ||<ref>{{cite web | access-date=January 13, 2014 | archive-date=January 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113154112/http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2014/01-08/5713938.shtml | url=http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2014/01-08/5713938.shtml | language=zh | script-title=zh:三峡工程2013年建设运行情况良好 发挥综合效益 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| 32
|98.800 ||<ref>{{cite web | access-date=January 15, 2017 | archive-date=March 3, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180056/http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-three-gorges-dam-breaks-world-hydropower-record-004111862.html | url=https://news.yahoo.com/chinas-three-gorges-dam-breaks-world-hydropower-record-004111862.html | title=China's Three Gorges dam 'breaks world hydropower record' | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| 32
|87.000 ||<ref>{{cite web | archive-date=January 16, 2016 | url=https://www.itaipu.gov.br/sala-de-imprensa/noticia/itaipu-bate-tres-gargantas-e-reassume-lideranca-em-producao | language=pt |title=Itaipu bate Três Gargantas e reassume liderança em produção |trans-title=Itaipu overtakes Three Gorges and resumes the lead in production | url-status=live | work=itaipu.gov.br | access-date=January 7, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116032200/https://www.itaipu.gov.br/sala-de-imprensa/noticia/itaipu-bate-tres-gargantas-e-reassume-lideranca-em-producao}}</ref>
|-
| 2016
| 32
|93.500 || <ref>{{cite news | archive-date=March 1, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301115027/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2017-03/01/content_28396395.htm | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2017-03/01/content_28396395.htm | title=Three Gorges Project reaches 1 trillion kWh milestone | work=[[China Daily]] | date=March 1, 2017 | access-date=May 20, 2017 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ccf;"
|-
| 2017
| 32
|97.600 || <ref>{{cite news | archive-date=March 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050307/https://gbtimes.com/chinas-three-gorges-project-increases-power-output-in-2017 | url=https://gbtimes.com/chinas-three-gorges-project-increases-power-output-in-2017 | title=China's Three Gorges project increases power output in 2017 | work=GBTimes.com | date=January 4, 2017 | access-date=March 2, 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|32
|101.600
|<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite web | access-date=March 21, 2019 | archive-date=March 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321110824/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/21/WS5c1c5eeca3107d4c3a002168.html | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/21/WS5c1c5eeca3107d4c3a002168.html | title=Three Gorges Dam generates record amount of power | date=December 21, 2018 | last=Zhang | first=Jie | url-status=live | website=China Daily}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| 32
|96.880 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/china/gncj/2020-01-07/doc-iihnzahk2534157.shtml|title=三峡工程2019年运行情况良好 综合效益显著发挥|date=January 7, 2020|publisher=Sina Corp}}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| 32
|111.800 || <ref name=wr20 />
|-
| 2021
| 32
|103.649 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/newsthree-gorges-crosses-100b-kwh-power-generation-mark-in-2021-9406102|title=Three Gorges crosses 100b kWh power generation mark in 2021|date=March 14, 2022|website=waterpowermagazine.com}}</ref>
|-
| 2022
| 32
|78.790 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stcn.com/article/detail/768963.html|title=长江电力：2022年总发电量1855.81亿千瓦时 同比减少10.92%|date=January 5, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| 2023
| 32
|80.271 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202401/content_6925452.htm|title=2023年三峡枢纽通过货运量再创新高|date=January 11, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2024
| 32
|82.911 || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.bjx.com.cn/mnews/20250107/1421436.shtml|title=长江电力披露2024年发电量完成情况|date=January 7, 2025}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ccf;"
|}
[[File:Three gorges dam annual power output SVG.svg|lang=en|thumb|Three Gorges Dam annual power output]]
[[File:Yangtze River flow rate at TGD site.JPG|thumb|Yangtze River flow rate comparing to the dam intake capacity]]
[[File:Three Gorges Dam Installed Units and TWh Over Years.png|thumb|Three Gorges Dam Installed Units and Annual Electricity Production Over Years (2003–2023)]]
By August 16, 2011, the plant had generated 500&nbsp;TWh of electricity.<ref>{{cite web | archive-date=October 2, 2011 | df=mdy-all | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/xwzx/news.php?mnewsid=49662 | language=zh | script-title=zh:三峡电站持续安稳运行累计发电突破5000亿千瓦时 | publisher=ctgpc.com.cn | access-date=August 28, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002055755/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/xwzx/news.php?mnewsid=49662 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | archive-date=February 8, 2009 | title=The 26 units of the left and right shore power stations of the Three Gorges Project were all put into commercial operation. | publisher=CRI online | date=October 30, 2008 | access-date=December 6, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208223653/http://gb.cri.cn/18824/2008/10/30/2945s2302630.htm | language=zh | script-title=zh:三峡工程左右岸电站26台机组全部投入商业运行 – 中国报道 – 国际在线 | url=http://gb.cri.cn/18824/2008/10/30/2945s2302630.htm | url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2008 it generated 10.3&nbsp;TWh of electricity, its first month over 10&nbsp;TWh.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=China Three Gorges Project Corporation | date=August 15, 2008 | access-date=December 6, 2008 | language=zh | archive-date=December 7, 2008 | script-title=zh:三峡电站月发电量首过百亿千瓦时 | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29583 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207081848/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29583 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 30, 2009, after the river flow rate increased to over 24,000&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>/s, all 28 generators were switched on, producing only 16,100&nbsp;MW because the head available during flood season is insufficient.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/zhibo/2009-06/30/content_16958373.htm | language=zh | script-title=zh:三峡电站26台发电机组投产后首次满负荷发电 | trans-title=The 26 generating units of the Three Gorges Power Station are fully loaded for the first time since being put into operation | date=June 30, 2009 | agency=Xinhua News Agency | access-date=August 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705164446/http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/zhibo/2009-06/30/content_16958373.htm | archive-date=July 5, 2009 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref> During an August 2009 flood, the plant first reached its maximum output for a short period.<ref name="ctgpc2">{{cite web | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=35674 | language=zh | script-title=zh:中国长江三峡工程开发总公司 | publisher=Ctgpc.com.cn | access-date=August 16, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908154513/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=35674 | archive-date=September 8, 2011 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the November to May dry season, power output is limited by the river's flow rate, as seen in the diagrams on the right. When there is enough flow, power output is limited by plant generating capacity. The maximum power-output curves were calculated based on the average flow rate at the dam site, assuming the water level is 175&nbsp;m and the plant gross efficiency is 90.15%. The actual power output in 2008 was obtained based on the monthly electricity sent to the grid.<ref>{{cite web | archive-date=January 30, 2009 | df=mdy-all | url=http://www.sgcc.com.cn/dwxx/qydwyxqk/lsyxqk/default.shtml | language=zh | script-title=zh:国家电网公司-主要水电厂来水和运行情况 | publisher=Sgcc.com.cn | access-date=August 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130040313/http://www.sgcc.com.cn/dwxx/qydwyxqk/lsyxqk/default.shtml | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | archive-date=July 1, 2009 | df=mdy-all | url=http://www.sgcc.com.cn/dwxx/sgddxx/gdzdxxxt/default.shtml | language=zh | script-title=zh:国家电网公司-国调直调信息系统 | publisher=Sgcc.com.cn | access-date=August 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701021527/http://www.sgcc.com.cn/dwxx/sgddxx/gdzdxxxt/default.shtml | url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Three Gorges Dam reached its design-maximum reservoir water level of {{cvt|175|m|0}} for the first time on October 26, 2010, in which the intended annual power-generation capacity of 84.7 TWh was realized.<ref name="Xin2010">{{cite web | df=mdy-all | url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-10/26/c_13575583.htm | title=Water level at Three Gorges Project raised to full capacity | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029180847/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-10/26/c_13575583.htm | url-status=dead | agency=Xinhua News Agency | archive-date=October 29, 2010}}</ref> It has a combined generating capacity of 22.5 gigawatts and a designed annual generation capacity of 88.2 TWh. In 2012, the dam's 32 generating units generated a record 98.1 TWh of electricity, which accounts for 14% of China's total hydro generation.<ref>{{cite news | archive-date=January 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115071329/http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2013/january/chinas-three-gorges-sets-new-production-record.html | url=http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2013/january/chinas-three-gorges-sets-new-production-record.html | title=China's Three Gorges sets new production record | work=Hydro World | date=January 10, 2013 | access-date=January 10, 2013 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Between 2012 (first year with all 32 generating units operating) and 2021, the dam generated an average of 97.22 TWh of electricity per year, higher than Itaipu dam's average of 89.22 TWh of electricity per year during the same period. Due to the extensive 2020 monsoon season rainfall, the annual production reached ~112 TWh that year, which broke the previous world record of annual production by Itaipu Dam equal to ~103 TWh.<ref name=wr20 />

=== Distribution ===
The [[State Grid Corporation]] and [[China Southern Power Grid]] paid a flat rate of ¥250&nbsp;per MWh (US$35.7) until July 2, 2008. Since then, the price has varied by province, from ¥228.7 to ¥401.8&nbsp;per MWh. Higher-paying customers, such as [[Shanghai]], receive priority.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29096 | language=zh | script-title=zh:中国长江三峡工程开发总公司 | publisher=Ctgpc.com.cn | date=July 4, 2008 | access-date=August 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210072449/http://www.ctgpc.com.cn/sx/news.php?mNewsId=29096 | archive-date=February 10, 2009 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref> Nine provinces and two cities consume power from the dam.<ref name="chinagate">{{cite news | archive-date=October 10, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010083924/http://en.chinagate.cn/reports/2007-12/05/content_9348644.htm | url=http://en.chinagate.cn/reports/2007-12/05/content_9348644.htm | title=Construction of the Three Gorges Project and Ecological Protection | publisher=Chinagate.com.cn | date=November 27, 2007 | access-date=March 24, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Power distribution and transmission infrastructure cost about 34.387&nbsp;billion yuan. Construction was completed in December 2007, one year ahead of schedule.<ref>{{cite news | archive-date=December 21, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221212404/http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/xwfb/t20071220_180047.htm | url=http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/xwfb/t20071220_180047.htm | title=Three Gorges Dam | publisher=National Development and Reform Commission | date=December 20, 2007 | access-date=December 20, 2007 | language=zh | url-status=live}}</ref>

Power is distributed over multiple 500 kV transmission lines. Three [[direct current]] (DC) lines to the East China Grid carry 7,200 MW: Three Gorges – Shanghai (3,000 MW), [[HVDC Three Gorges – Changzhou]] (3,000 MW), and [[HVDC Gezhouba – Shanghai]] (1,200 MW). The [[alternating current]] (AC) lines to the Central China Grid have a total capacity of 12,000 MW. The DC transmission line [[HVDC Three Gorges – Guangdong]] to the South China Grid has a capacity of 3,000 MW.<ref name="abb">{{cite web | url=http://www.abb.com/cawp/gad02181/f5933693d1a92404c1256d8800401782.aspx | title=Three Gorges, China | publisher=ABB Group | access-date=November 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013121502/http://www.abb.com/cawp/gad02181/f5933693d1a92404c1256d8800401782.aspx | archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref>

The dam was expected to provide 10% of China's power. However, electricity demand has increased more quickly than previously projected. Even fully operational and despite its size, on average, it supported only about 1.7% of electricity demand in China in the year of 2011, when the Chinese electricity demand reached 4,692.8 TWh.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.csee.net.cn/data/2006/0525/article_864.htm | title=Three Gorges Dam | publisher=[[Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering]] | date=May 25, 2006 | access-date=May 16, 2007 | language=zh | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429120935/http://www.csee.net.cn/data/2006/0525/article_864.htm | archive-date=April 29, 2007 | df=mdy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | access-date=June 23, 2012 | archive-date=January 17, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117003202/http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2012-01/14/content_2044324.htm | url=http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2012-01/14/content_2044324.htm | language=zh | script-title=zh:能源局:2011年全社会用电量累计达46928亿千瓦时 | url-status=live}}</ref>