Baihetan Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River, has achieved a remarkable milestone, with its cumulative power generation exceeding 100 billion kilowatt-hours - equivalent to saving approximately 30.07 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 82.4 million tons, the China Three Gorges Corporation announced on Oct 12.
Located in Ningnan County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province and Qiaojia County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, Baihetan Hydropower Station is a major national project in China's implementation of the west-to-east power transmission program. It is the second cascade hydropower station invested and constructed by the China Three Gorges Corporation in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River, and with a total installed capacity of 16 million kilowatts, it ranks second in the world only to China's Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Station in terms of hydropower capacity. The station generates over 60 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually and can meet the daily power needs of up to 148 million people at its peak.
Baihetan Hydropower Station boasts an installation of 16 units of one million kilowatt hydro-generators, currently the largest single-unit hydro-generator in the world. Its hydraulic design, electromagnetic design, ventilation and cooling design, as well as high-performance materials research and development have reached the world's leading level. The first batch of units of the station began operation and power generation on June 28, 2021, and all units were put into operation on Dec 20, 2022.
Control room of Baihetan Hydropower Station [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Upon the full operation of all units at Baihetan Hydropower Station, it joins the ranks of five other world-class large-scale hydropower stations, namely, Wudongde, Xiluodu, Xiangjiaba, Three Gorges, and Gezhouba, together forming the world's largest clean energy corridor.
These six power stations are equipped with 110 hydroelectric generators, boasting a total installed capacity of 71.7 million kilowatts, equivalent to three Three Gorges hydropower stations. Their average annual power generation is approximately 300 billion kilowatt-hours, capable of meeting the annual power demand of over 300 million people. In addition, they can annually save more than 90 million tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 240 million tons.
Since its inception, Baihetan Hydropower Station has delivered 100 billion kilowatt-hours of green electricity to the Yangtze River Delta region, making important contributions to helping China achieve its dual carbon goals, fostering economic and social development, and driving comprehensive green transformation.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
