On March 1, the construction of the Langjiang Pumped Storage Power Station project in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China, is progressing rapidly. This project aims to achieve a breakthrough in national energy technology by installing the first domestically produced large variable-speed pumped storage unit, marking a significant advancement for China in the field of high-end equipment manufacturing. As a supporting project for major technological equipment in the national energy sector, the installation of this domestically produced large variable-speed pumped storage unit is a critical step in technological innovation.
Currently, the underground cavern complex of the power station has been fully excavated, structural concrete pouring has been completed, and mechanical and electrical installation work is proceeding in an orderly manner. The rotor core, a core component of the variable-speed pumped storage unit, is precisely laminated from over 60,000 silicon steel sheets, each only 0.65 millimeters thick. This process involves high complexity and was a key focus during the localization effort.
Critical systems of this domestically produced large variable-speed pumped storage unit, such as the excitation system, have achieved independent research and development. Notably, the rotor retaining ring, which has an ultra-large diameter and a material yield strength exceeding 750 megapascals, is now 100% domestically manufactured. This fills a gap in China for ultra-large diameter non-magnetic metal retaining rings and breaks the long-term foreign technological monopoly in this area.
From an aerial perspective, two giant reservoir basins with a head drop of over 430 meters have largely taken shape. The construction site is bustling with machinery and busy operations, showcasing the vitality of the project. Once operational, the power station is expected to consume 2.16 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, equivalent to the annual electricity demand of approximately 980,000 residents, providing momentum for the green transformation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
