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.

The dam will be built on Tibet’s longest river and despite concerns from India, Bangladesh and Tibetan rights groups, it has now been approved by central government. At a huge cost of £737million, once it has been completed, it could be the world’s largest hydropower dam.

The location in the remote and sparsely populated Tibetan borderlands has the potential to cause environmental and political ructions.

China said it has talked with countries downstream about its new dam project in Tibet, a massive undertaking that will affect a key source of water for India and Bangladesh.

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.