China has broken ground on what it says will be the world's largest hydropower project, a $170  billion feat capable of generating enough electricity each year to power Britain.

China has started construction of the world’s biggest hydroelectric dam, a project that’s set to be far larger than the Three Gorges Dam — already the world’s biggest single source of green power — and more expensive than the International Space Station.

China has officially launched construction of what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower dam, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. Spearheaded by Premier Li Qiang, the Yarlung Zangbo hydropower project is expected to generate an astounding 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – triple the output of the iconic