The Qianjiangyuan Hydropower Station at the Kaihua Reservoir project in Kaihua County, western Zhejiang Province, China, was successfully connected to the grid on November 28, completing all commissioning procedures and entering full operational status. The milestone strengthens water-resources utilisation and supports the ongoing modernisation of the regional energy mix.
The Kaihua Reservoir project, located at the headwaters of the Qiantang River, is one of China’s 150 nationally prioritized water-conservancy projects and a key component of the national water network. The reservoir has a catchment area of 233km², a total storage capacity of 184 million m³, and a normal pool level of 251m. The hydropower station has an installed capacity of 13.8MW. The project is classified as a large-scale (Class II) water-conservancy facility and plays an important role in the Qiantang River Basin flood-control system.
The Qianjiangyuan hydropower station is situated downstream of the power-generation diversion tunnel and is integrated with the local Shengyu grid system. The plant is equipped with two 6MW vertical-shaft Francis units and two 0.9MW horizontal-shaft Francis ecological units, which ensure downstream environmental flows.
Grid-connection work began on November 25. Testing included line and transformer energisation, on-load tap-changer checks, and phase-sequence verification. All protection tests passed, and automation systems performed as expected. Full grid connection was achieved on schedule.
Project managers report that the next phase will focus on routine operation and maintenance to ensure long-term reliability. The station is expected to contribute to sustainable water-resources management, ecological protection, and regional economic development across the Qiantang River Basin.
