Wudongde hydropower plant goes into trial operation

Wudongde hydropower plant, operated by China Three Gorges Corp. (CTG), passed a crucial step towards being completed on May 28, with the launch of trial operation of its No. 6 and No. 7 power units.

The trial operation will test the overall functioning of the power units before they are commissioned. Upon completion, Wudongde hydropower plant will be the fourth largest hydropower plant in China and the seventh largest in the world.

Located in the lower reaches of Jinsha River at the intersection of Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province, Wudongde power plant is one of the key clean energy projects in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan.

Wudongde hydropower station will be equipped with 12 generators, each with a generating capacity of 850 megawatts. It’s estimated to generate an annual output of 38.9 terawatt hours, which will save 12.2 million tons of standard coal and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 30.5 million tons every year after it goes into full operation next year.

The power plant will play a significant role in building a more eco-friendly, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. In addition to achieving emission reductions and energy conservation, the power plant will promote the coordinated development of regional economy and help establish the Yangtze Economic Belt, advancing the development of western China.