China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has added new renewable and digital features to its Wudongde Hydropower Project as part of efforts to build what it calls a zero-carbon smart dam zone.
The company said rooftop solar panels at the site have begun operating, producing more than 1,500kWh in a single day. A smart irrigation system has also been introduced to maintain green belts around the facility. CTG plans to expand solar and storage capacity and increase the use of electric vehicles, smart lighting and energy-efficient buildings at the site.
Located on the Jinsha River at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, Wudongde is one of China’s largest hydropower plants. It has an installed capacity of 10.2GW from 12 Francis turbines and generates around 38.9 billion kWh a year.
It was phased into operation, with the first units running on in June 2020 and full commissioning achieved by June 2021. Among its ancillary roles, the project contributes to flood control, navigation, and local economic development. The reservoir, under normal impoundment, is at an elevation of 975m and has a total storage capacity around 7.41 billion cubic metres, with 2.44 billion cubic metres reserved for flood control.
Wudongde is one of six major hydropower stations along the Yangtze River system that make up what CTG describes as the world’s largest clean energy corridor. Together, the six projects have a combined capacity of about 71.7GW and supply roughly 300 terawatt hours of electricity annually.
