As it has been scorching hot across the country recently, the electricity demand has been continuously increasing. China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. (CYPC), a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation(CTG) made all out efforts to ensure the power supply during the summer peak and meet the production and living electricity needs in the power-receiving areas.
Since July, the six cascade hydropower stations on the main stream of the Yangtze River broke the historical record of peak regulation for two consecutive days on June 11 and 12, with the highest peak load regulation exceeding 32 million kilowatts. The continuous green electricity dispatched to the power grid has effectively alleviated the electricity shortage in East China and Central China.
The six cascade hydropower stations, namely Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, Xiangjiaba, Three Gorges and Gezhouba on the main stream of the Yangtze River, operated by CTG, constitute the world's largest clean energy corridor.
The green energy corridor is equipped with 110 hydroelectric generating units, with a total installed capacity of 71.695 million kilowatts, equivalent to the installed capacity of three "Three Gorges" hydropower plants. Its average annual power generation is about 300 billion kilowatt-hours, which can meet the electricity demand of over 300 million people for a year. It saves more than 90 million tons of standard coal and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by over 240 million tons annually.
On Dec 20, 2022, all the units of the Baihetan Hydropower Station were put into operation, forming a new pattern of joint operation among the six hydropower stations. In addition, among the six hydropower stations, five are key power supply points in China's west-to-east power transmission program.
Panorama of the Three Gorges Dam [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
To prepare for the summer peak season, CYPC has ensured efficient operation and management of the six cascade hydropower stations since the beginning of the summer.
The company closely monitors the load of the power grid and puts quality and safety first, highlighting safe production in the operation and management of the power stations. It continues to monitor the operating conditions of equipment and conduct scientific equipment diagnosis and analysis, in a bid to ensure the generating units can produce electricity to the fullest extent possible.
The company puts more efforts in equipment maintenance management, with rigid control on the annual maintenance period and the quality of equipment and facilities. On June 9, the company completed the 2022-2023 annual maintenance of cascade hydropower stations. All overhauled units achieved 100 percent high-quality standard, providing a solid guarantee for the safe and stable operation of the cascade hydropower stations, peak power generation, and reliable power supply of the grid.
Power Plant on the left of the Three Gorges [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The company pays special attentions to equipment operation management. Based on the operating characteristics of the source grid during the summer peak period, the company, taking the severe weather conditions such as high temperatures and heavy rainfall into full consideration, has increased equipment inspection frequency and intensity and strengthened equipment operation trend analysis to ensure the high-load, long-cycle, uninterrupted, safe and stable operation of cascade hydropower stations. The company has also strictly implemented the power generation plan and dispatching instructions, adjusting the output of the unit timely and accurately.
CYPC also works on joint dispatching management. The company strengthened hydrological and meteorological monitoring and forecasting in power-receiving areas, using a "10-day trend observation, 5-day quantity estimation, and 2-day process determination" forecasting approach for the upstream flow of the Yangtze River. It has also increased communication and coordination with higher-level dispatching departments, studied power generation capacity of power stations and electricity demand in power receiving areas, and dynamically optimized the joint dispatching operation mode of the cascade hydropower stations, giving full play to the role of "ballast stone" and "stabilizer" for large hydropower energy supply.
As of the end of June, more than 30 consultations have been held with power grid dispatching agencies, trading centers, the Yangtze River Basin meteorological center, and the hydrological bureau of the Yangtze River Water Resources Commission, and more than 540 dispatching plans have been submitted.
Three Gorges Transmission Line [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
As of July 12, the world's largest clean energy corridor has been running smoothly, and all generating units were in safe and stable operation. The maximum number of operating units among the six cascade hydropower stations reached 97 during the peak operation, and the highest single-day power generation exceeded 900 million kWh.
On July 12, the peak load regulation capacity exceeded 32 million kW, which is equivalent to the peak shaving capacity of 26 1.2 million-kilowatt pumped storage power stations. It has broken the historical record of 26.175 million kW peak shaving capacity in 2022 for two consecutive days.
The six cascade hydropower stations give full play the role as key power points in the west-to-east power transmission program with enormous peak-shaving capabilities and prominent role as green engines.
On July 11, all 8 units of the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station were at full capacity, and 16 units of Baihetan Hydropower Station were fully operational for the first time.
On July 12, the Xiluodu, Gezhouba and Baihetan hydropower stations were fully operational, making positive contributions to the safe electricity supply and the green and low-carbon energy transformation.
In the critical period for flood control, it is also important to ensure power supply and meet the power demand in summer peak. China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. will closely monitor the hydrological and meteorological forecasts of the Yangtze River Basin, conduct precise scheduling, and operate efficiently, so as to ensure the safe and stable supply of electricity during the summer peak.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
