China commissioned a pumped-storage power plant that has become a global benchmark for its design and scale. Located in the city of Jurong, in Jiangsu province, this facility operated by a subsidiary of State Grid Corporation represents a key step in the country’s energy modernization.
The plant is equipped with an installed capacity of 1.35 gigawatts and is expected to generate approximately 1.35 billion kilowatt-hours per year. This type of infrastructure takes advantage of periods of low electricity demand to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir, accumulating potential energy that is released during consumption peaks.
engineering applied to the world’s tallest pumping station
The most striking component of the project is its top dam, which reaches a height of 182.3 meters, making it the world’s tallest pumped storage plant. pumped-storage power plants in the world.. The reservoir can store up to 17.07 million cubic meters of water, making it a reliable and flexible source of power for times of peak demand on the grid.
The system has the capacity to adjust the bi-directional electrical load by about 2.7 million kilowatts. This enables functions such as frequency adjustment, phase control and dynamic storage, contributing to the stability of the regional power grid.
Responding to growing energy demand and green transition
Jiangsu, as an industrial hub in the Yangtze Delta, is experiencing growing energy demand. This power plant not only relieves pressure on the power system at peak times, but also facilitates greater integration of renewable energies, such as solar and wind, which rely on storage technologies technologies to ensure their reliability.
Since 2021, State Grid has deployed 78 such units, reaching a total installed capacity of 44.53 gigawatts in pumped generation. With this new project, the corporation reinforces its role in China’s energy transition, combining operational efficiency with technological innovation in energy-intensive areas.
Source and photo: State Grid Xinyuan Company Ltd via Xinhua
