China Unveils Groundbreaking Maerdang Hydropower Plant with Record-Breaking Capacity and Advanced Transmission System

On April 1, China Energy Group announced the launch of the first unit of the Maerdang hydropower plant in Qinghai province, northwest China. This hydropower plant is the country’s highest with the largest installed capacity in the Yellow River basin. The first unit has a capacity of 550,000 kW and will produce 13.2 million kWh of clean electricity daily, meeting the electricity needs of over a million families.

Once fully operational, the Maerdang hydropower plant will have a total installed capacity of 2.32 million kW and can produce over 7.3 billion kWh of electricity per year, significantly reducing consumption of standard coal and carbon dioxide emissions. This project is China Energy’s first integrated clean energy facility that combines hydropower, solar power, and energy storage to benefit the eastern region’s electricity-starved areas.

Moreover, an ultra-high voltage transformer station was commissioned last September in Qinghai province to increase the power transmission network’s voltage. The smart substation is equipped with a drone system to intercept unidentified drones and can transmit about 15 billion kWh of clean electricity per year. This project promotes water resources development in the upper reaches of the Yellow River while reducing carbon emissions.

Overall, these advancements represent significant strides in clean energy production and transmission in China, benefiting millions of families and reducing carbon emissions.