en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Taoyuan Muwangxi Pumped Storage Power Station, a key construction project in Hunan Province, has recently entered its main construction phase.

A pumped storage power station can use surplus electricity from wind and solar power during low-demand periods to pump water for energy storage, and release water to generate electricity during peak demand to fill supply gaps. It can also quickly regulate grid frequency and voltage, smooth out fluctuations from renewable energy generation, and provide emergency backup and black-start capabilities for the power grid. This facility helps reduce curtailment of wind and solar power, promotes clean energy consumption, stabilizes grid operation, and ensures power security. Some reservoir areas also offer comprehensive benefits such as flood control, irrigation, and ecological water replenishment. It is a core regulation and energy storage facility for the construction of a new power system.

Located in the northwestern region of Hunan, this station is the only pumped storage site currently planned in the area. It is also the first pumped storage project developed by the State Power Investment Corporation and is listed as a key energy supply assurance project for Hunan Province during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, as well as the single largest investment project in Changde City during the same period. The project has a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW, with four 300 MW reversible generator units. It is planned to have the first unit operational by March 2030, with all units commissioned by December of the same year.

According to estimates, once completed, the project will fill 76% of the predicted peak shaving gap in northwestern Hunan by 2030, 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.

Since the beginning of this year, the project has been advancing efficiently. On May 30, the ventilation and safety tunnel was completed six days ahead of schedule, reaching the powerhouse sidewall. On June 26, the access tunnel for the powerhouse successfully entered the mountain, and the lower reservoir diversion tunnel and the ventilation and safety tunnel were fully connected. With this, all preconditions for starting the construction of the underground powerhouse and lower reservoir works have been cleared, and the project has officially entered the main construction phase.

Additionally, the site leveling for the project's owner camp and the access roads are also progressing rapidly.