Wudongde hydropower plant, operated by China Three Gorges Corp (CTG), has commissioned its last
power unit on June 16, signaling that all of its 12 power units, each with a
capacity of 850 MW, are now on operation as scheduled, marking a new phase
of operation and management.
The project, China's fourth-largest and the world's seventh-largest hydropower project, is
expected to make a great contribution to the country’s efforts to see
carbon dioxide emission peak before 2030 and go carbon neutral before 2060 and
to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. It will also
push social and economic transformation based on efficient use
of green and low-carbon growth.
In addition to power generation, Wudongde, located on the
borders between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, also delivers other benefits such
as flood control, navigation and powering local economic and social
development. Wudongde reservoir has an elevation of 975m in normal impoundment,
a total storage capacity of 7.41 billion cubic meters and a flood control
capacity of 2.44 billion cubic meters. The dam is capable of seasonal
regulation of the water level with significant benefits in flood control.
Wudongde has six power units on the left and right banks
respectively, each with a capacity of 850 MW, making them the world's largest
hydropower units in operation. The dam has a total installed capacity of 10.2
GW, which can generate an average of 38.91 billion kilowatt
hours annually, equivalent to a reduction of 12.2 million tons in standard
coal and 30.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.
The plant started construction on December 16, 2015 after
receiving the green light and commissioned its first batch of power units
on June 29, 2020.
Wudongde project has set eight world records during its
construction, such as the world's thinnest 300-meter high arch dam, and
achieved 15 "world firsts" such as building the low-heat cement dam.
It also made eight breakthroughs in hydropower engineering, such as assuming
the flood control role during the construction. Multiple world-class challenges
were tackled such as temperature control and crack prevention for large-volume
concrete, large-scale excavation of holes and chambers underground, and 800 MPa
high-strength steel welding. The dam recorded zero quality or safety accidents
during its construction period, setting a benchmark in leading the global
hydropower projects
Wudongde hydropower plant has produced 24 billion kWh
clean electricity by June 16.
Source: China Three Gorges Corporation