The Chinese mainland has officially commenced operation of the first unit of the Maerdang Hydropower Station, situated on the upper reaches of the Yellow River in northwest China’s Qinghai Province. Operated by China Energy Investment Corp (China Energy), this facility marks a significant milestone as the highest-altitude hydropower station with the largest installed capacity in the Yellow River basin.
Perched at an elevation of 5,000 meters above sea level, the initial unit boasts an installed capacity of 550,000 kilowatts. China Energy reports that it is expected to generate 13.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green electricity daily, sufficient to meet the energy needs of approximately 1.1 million families.
Once fully operational, the Maerdang Hydropower Station will have a total installed capacity of 2.32 million kilowatts. The facility is projected to produce over 7.3 billion kWh of electricity annually, offsetting the consumption of 2.56 million tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 8.16 million tonnes.
This initiative represents China Energy’s first integrated clean energy project that combines hydropower, solar power, and energy storage. By harnessing the abundant clean energy resources in western China, the project aims to support the energy demands of the eastern regions, fostering a more balanced and sustainable energy distribution across the country.
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China operates high-altitude Maerdang Hydropower Station in Qinghai
cgtn.com
