The Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project, often referred to as the Medog Hydropower Project or Medog Hydropower Station, is one of the world’s most ambitious hydropower developments. Located in Nyingchi, southeastern Tibet, the project is being developed along the dramatic bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Medog area.
Unlike a conventional single-dam hydropower station, the project is planned as a five-stage cascade hydropower complex. According to the currently announced plan, it will have a total installed capacity of approximately 60 GW (60 million kW) and an estimated annual electricity generation of around 300 billion kWh.
The project officially began construction on July 19, 2025, and is expected to be developed and commissioned in stages during the 2030s.
How Big Is the Yarlung Tsangpo Hydropower Project?
The planned 60 GW installed capacity makes the Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project significantly larger than the world’s largest completed hydropower stations.
For comparison:
| Hydropower Project | Installed Capacity | Annual Generation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project | 60 GW | ~300 billion kWh | Under construction |
| Three Gorges Dam | 22.5 GW | ~100 billion kWh | Completed |
| Baihetan Hydropower Station | 16 GW | ~61.1 billion kWh | Completed |
| Itaipu Dam | 14 GW | ~98.6 billion kWh | Completed |
If the project is completed according to current plans, it will become the world’s largest hydropower complex by installed capacity, surpassing the Three Gorges, Baihetan and Itaipu projects.
It is important to distinguish between completed hydropower stations and planned or under-construction projects. The Yarlung Tsangpo project is not currently the world’s largest operating hydropower station because construction is still underway.
Where Is the Medog Hydropower Project?
The project is located in Tibet’s Nyingchi region, around the dramatic Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, extending toward Medog County.
The Yarlung Tsangpo forms one of the world’s most spectacular river landscapes in this region. The river descends through steep Himalayan terrain before turning sharply toward southeastern Tibet and eventually entering India, where it is known as the Brahmaputra River.
The combination of steep mountains, deep valleys and a huge natural elevation difference provides exceptional hydropower potential.
Why Is the Yarlung Tsangpo River Suitable for Hydropower?
One of the most remarkable features of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon region is its enormous natural elevation drop.
The lower Yarlung Tsangpo section around the Great Bend has a potential elevation difference of roughly 2,200 meters. The project is designed to take advantage of this natural drop through a combination of cascade development, water diversion tunnels and river engineering.
This means the project is not simply about constructing one enormous dam. Instead, its design relies heavily on a network of hydropower facilities and underground infrastructure.
Five Cascade Hydropower Stations
The Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project is planned as a cascade system consisting of five hydropower stations.
This is an important distinction when discussing its global ranking. The project is better described as a large hydropower complex rather than a single hydropower dam.
The five-stage cascade system is designed to make efficient use of the river’s natural elevation difference and maximize electricity generation.
Investment in the Medog Hydropower Project
The planned investment for the overall Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project is approximately RMB 1.2 trillion.
This figure refers to the overall development rather than a single power station. It covers the five cascade hydropower projects together with major supporting infrastructure and related power transmission facilities.
Because construction will continue for many years in a challenging high-altitude environment, the final investment may change as construction progresses, depending on geological conditions, material costs, engineering requirements and supporting infrastructure.
The project is being developed by China Yajiang Group, a state-owned enterprise established to undertake the development and construction of the Yarlung Tsangpo lower-reach hydropower project.
Construction Timeline
Construction officially started on July 19, 2025.
The project is expected to take more than a decade to develop, with different hydropower units expected to enter operation progressively rather than all at once.
The construction environment presents major engineering challenges. The project area features:
- High-altitude terrain
- Extremely steep mountain valleys
- Complex geological conditions
- Significant seismic activity
- Long underground tunnels
- Difficult transportation and construction logistics
These factors make the Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower project one of the most technically challenging infrastructure projects in the world.
Engineering Challenges
The location of the Medog Hydropower Project presents both exceptional hydropower potential and significant engineering difficulties.
Instead of relying solely on an extremely high dam, the project is expected to make extensive use of diversion tunnels and underground powerhouses to utilize the river’s natural elevation difference.
Engineering teams must also consider geological stability, earthquake risks, water management and construction safety in a remote Himalayan environment.
Environmental considerations are another important part of the project. Measures such as maintaining ecological flows are intended to preserve basic downstream river flows while the hydropower system operates.
Electricity Generation and China’s Clean Energy Strategy
The project is planned to generate approximately 300 billion kWh of electricity annually.
This enormous amount of electricity would make the Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project a major source of renewable energy for China.
Electricity generated in Tibet could support local energy demand while large quantities could also be transmitted to other regions through China’s long-distance ultra-high-voltage power transmission network.
The project therefore forms part of the broader development of China’s western clean-energy resources and the country’s “West-to-East Electricity Transmission” strategy.
Yarlung Tsangpo Hydropower Project vs. Three Gorges Dam
The scale of the proposed project becomes clearer when compared with the Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges Hydropower Station has an installed capacity of 22.5 GW, while the Yarlung Tsangpo project is planned for approximately 60 GW.
That means the planned capacity of the Yarlung Tsangpo project is about 2.7 times that of the Three Gorges project.
The estimated annual electricity generation is also substantially higher, at approximately 300 billion kWh compared with around 100 billion kWh for the Three Gorges project.
However, the two projects have different configurations. The Three Gorges is centered on a major single reservoir and dam complex, whereas the Yarlung Tsangpo project consists of five cascade hydropower stations spread across the lower river.
Is the Medog Hydropower Station the World’s Largest?
The answer depends on how the ranking is defined. Among completed operating hydropower stations, the Three Gorges project remains the largest by installed capacity.
The Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project is still under construction. However, based on its current planned capacity of 60 GW, the project would become the world’s largest hydropower complex once fully completed.
It is therefore more accurate to describe it as the world’s largest planned or under-construction hydropower project by installed capacity, rather than calling it the world’s largest operating hydropower station today.
Yarlung Tsangpo River and Tibet Tourism
The Yarlung Tsangpo River is also an important geographical and tourism feature of Tibet. The river passes through spectacular landscapes around Nyingchi, including deep valleys, snow-covered mountains, forests and dramatic Himalayan scenery. The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is one of the region’s best-known natural attractions.
For travelers visiting Tibet, Nyingchi and the Yarlung Tsangpo region offer a very different landscape from the high, dry plateau around Lhasa. The area is known for its relatively lush valleys, alpine forests and dramatic mountain scenery.
Travelers should note that hydropower construction zones are not necessarily open tourist areas. Access to specific locations may be restricted because of construction, environmental protection and local regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project?
It is a planned five-stage cascade hydropower complex on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo River in southeastern Tibet. It is also commonly known as the Medog Hydropower Project.
How much electricity will the Medog Hydropower Project generate?
The project is planned to generate approximately 300 billion kWh of electricity per year.
What is the installed capacity of the Yarlung Tsangpo Hydropower Project?
The planned total installed capacity is approximately 60 GW, or 60 million kW.
How much will the project cost?
The overall planned investment is approximately RMB 1.2 trillion, covering the cascade hydropower development and associated infrastructure.
When did construction begin?
Construction officially began on July 19, 2025.
Is the Medog Hydropower Station completed?
No. The project is currently under construction and is expected to be commissioned in stages during the 2030s.
Will it be larger than the Three Gorges Dam?
Yes, if the current plan is completed. Its planned 60 GW capacity is substantially larger than the Three Gorges project’s 22.5 GW capacity.
Conclusion
The Yarlung Tsangpo Lower Hydropower Project, also known as the Medog Hydropower Project, is set to become one of the largest hydropower developments ever undertaken.
With a planned 60 GW capacity, approximately 300 billion kWh of annual electricity generation, five cascade hydropower stations and an estimated investment of RMB 1.2 trillion, the project is significantly larger than the world’s largest completed hydropower facilities.
Its location in the remote Himalayan landscape of Nyingchi, Tibet, combined with the enormous natural elevation difference of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, gives the project extraordinary hydropower potential while creating equally significant engineering and environmental challenges.
For Tibet, the project represents a major new chapter in large-scale renewable energy development and infrastructure. For the world, it is one of the most closely watched hydropower projects of the 21st century.
