Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 17, China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has introduced new renewable energy and digital technologies at its Wudongde Hydropower Project, aiming to create a zero-carbon smart dam zone. Located on the Jinsha River at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, the project is one of China’s largest hydropower plants, with an installed capacity of 10.2 GW from 12 Francis turbines. It generates approximately 38.9 billion kWh of electricity annually.

As part of its new initiatives, CTG has installed rooftop solar panels, which have begun producing over 1,500 kWh per day. The company has also implemented a smart irrigation system to maintain green areas around the site. Moving forward, CTG plans to expand the use of solar energy, energy storage systems, electric vehicles, smart lighting, and energy-efficient buildings to further reduce the facility's carbon footprint.

The Wudongde project began operations in June 2020, with full commissioning achieved by June 2021. In addition to power generation, the hydropower station plays key roles in flood control, navigation, and local economic development. Its reservoir, which typically maintains an elevation of 975 meters, has a total storage capacity of 7.41 billion cubic meters, with 2.44 billion cubic meters allocated for flood control.

Wudongde is part of a group of six major hydropower stations along the Yangtze River system, collectively forming what CTG calls the world’s largest clean energy corridor. These six plants have a combined capacity of approximately 71.7 GW, generating around 300 terawatt-hours of electricity annually.

This initiative highlights CTG’s ongoing commitment to incorporating renewable energy solutions and sustainable technologies at its operations.