With the final generating unit of the Yinjiang Hydropower Station connected to the power grid, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province has seen its total installed hydropower capacity exceed 100 million kilowatts, marking a historic milestone.
Constructed by the Sichuan Energy Development Group Co., Ltd., the station is located in Sichuan’s Panzhihua City on the Jinsha River.
Its integration to the power grid not only reinforces Sichuan’s role as a clean energy hub in China, but also marks a milestone in the province’s development of clean energy powerhouse.
A big powerhouse
Accounting for over 20 percent of the national installed hydropower capacity, Sichuan generates around 400 billion kilowatt-hours, meeting the annual energy needs of 500 million people.
As a key hub of China’s west-to-east power transmission program, Sichuan has delivered more than 1.9 trillion kWh of electricity to regions outside the province.
This robust energy generation and transmission provides ample power for the province’s social flourishing and economic growth, and actively contributes to the country’s high-quality development of society and economy.
Hundred-year advancement
Since the commerce of Dongwo Hydropower Plant in Luzhou City in 1925, the province has witnessed a century of hydropower development, with its total installed capacity increasing by over 700,000 times.
Generations of technicians dedicated to building hydropower plants in Sichuan have consistently advanced engineering technology and improved management systems. As a result, they have established a comprehensive production chain containing design, construction, operation and equipment production.
Green power mix
At present, clean energy occupies 85 percent of the province’s total installed capacity, reflecting great improvements in its energy structure where hydropower serves as the backbone while being complemented by various other energy sources.
As a provincial leading energy enterprise, the Sichuan Energy Development Group fosters the strong growth of traditional energy methods such as hydro and thermal power, and actively develops environment-friendly energy. This initiative helps transform the provincial energy structure into a green, smart and efficient type.
For a bright future
Facing the more frequent extreme climates and the larger gap between energy demand peak and valley, Sichuan will enhance the resilience of its power system and push forward the integrated development between hydro, wind and solar energy.
The Group will play a crucial role in ensuring the stable energy supply and promoting the implementation of new projects, including smart grid and new-type energy storage, so as to provide strong support for the province’s goal of becoming a model for clean energy and contributing to national energy security strategy.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
