Main Body of Wudongde Hydropower Station's Dam Completed

Construction of the main body of the dam of Wudongde Hydropower Station, the fourth biggest domestic hydropower station and the world's seventh-largest, was completed on June 11.

Located at the border of Southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, it is the world's first 300-meter low-heat cement ultra-high arch dam and has 15 sections built from more than 2.7 million cubic meters of concrete.

The dam crest is 988 meters high and the highest dam is 270 meters. The upstream face of the dam crest spans 326.95 meters with a thickness-height ratio of only 0.19, making the dam the thinnest of its kind in the world.

Concreting of the dam started on March 16, 2017 and has progressed safely and on schedule with high quality.

A backbone power source of China's west-to-east power transmission project, Wudongde Hydropower Station is installed with 12 hydro-generator units with an installed capacity of 850,000 kW each.

It also plays a role in flood control and shipping and promotes regional economic growth.

Once operational the station will contribute to China's energy structure adjustment and the national goal of energy conservation and emission reduction. It will also promote environmental protection of the affected areas of the Yangtze River and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

According to the schedule, the station's first generator unit will be put into operation in July this year, and by the end of 2021 all generator units will be in service.

The main body of the Wudongde Hydropower Station's dam is completed on June 11. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A view of the upstream face of the station's dam [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)