en.Wedoany.com Reported - On June 30, the main construction of the Muwangxi Pumped Storage Power Station in Taoyuan, Hunan Province commenced. Located in Taoyuan County, Changde City, Hunan Province, the station has a total installed capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts. It is the first pumped storage project developed by the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and a key energy supply project under Hunan Province's "14th Five-Year Plan." The first unit is scheduled to be commissioned in March 2030, with all units operational by December of the same year.
As the only planned pumped storage site in the northwestern Hunan region, the station is expected to fill 76% of the projected peak-shaving gap in the area by 2030. It will reduce annual system network losses by 18 million kWh, decrease deep peak-shaving of thermal power by 4.45%, and lower annual system peak-shaving costs by approximately 131 million yuan. The project will effectively minimize curtailment of wind and solar power, significantly enhance regional grid resilience, and provide crucial support for Hunan's development of a new power system.
During the preliminary phase of the main construction of the Hunan Taoyuan Muwangxi Pumped Storage Power Station by SPIC's Wuling Power, the project team adhered to the principles of "depth, rigor, precision, and excellence," focusing on optimizing design and construction plans. They completed over 30 special studies, including a continuous slope design for the tailwater system, and implemented multiple solutions. Compared to the pre-feasibility study stage, the project saved over 1 billion yuan in costs and shortened the construction period by 27 months.
From approval to the start of main construction, the project achieved an "acceleration" in the preliminary conversion of similar provincial projects. Within six months of the investment decision, construction preparations were fully underway. A temporary camp was built in one and a half months, and by the end of May, the ventilation and safety tunnel had been precisely excavated to the main powerhouse roof arch. In early June, the project passed SPIC's main construction initiation review.
Technological innovation and green construction have become notable highlights. The project team innovatively developed the "sandy slate artificial aggregate utilization" technology, converting waste rock from underground powerhouse excavation into high-grade concrete aggregate, saving raw material costs of up to 30 million yuan. This provides a replicable ecological model for water conservancy projects in southern hilly regions. In terms of safety management, the project draws on nuclear power safety management experience, leveraging full-coverage 5G signals in major construction areas for grid-based fine management. Since construction began, it has maintained a "zero accident" record.
Additionally, green concepts are integrated throughout the construction process. Access roads are aligned with local transportation needs to avoid redundant construction. All engineering waste materials are used for reservoir area backfilling and dam construction, with no new large-scale waste disposal sites established around the reservoir area. The connecting roads between the upper and lower reservoirs use three tunnels through the mountain, accounting for 35% of the route length, maximizing the preservation of native vegetation.
Currently, the project is building a "smart construction site" integrating video surveillance, AI recognition, environmental monitoring, and other functions. Relying on 5G networks and big data platforms, a comprehensive smart management system covering the entire site is being continuously refined, laying a solid foundation for the station's intelligent operation.
