Southwest China’s Yebatan Hydropower Station has begun filling its reservoir, marking the final phase before its first power-generating units start running by year-end. This mega-project, part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, is set to become a green energy powerhouse in the upper Jinsha River region. 🏗️
Why It Matters
With a 2,240 MW capacity and a dam towering 217 meters, Yebatan is no ordinary station. It’s designed to produce 10.2 billion kWh of clean electricity annually—enough to save 4 million tonnes of coal and slash CO2 emissions by 7.37 million tonnes yearly. 🌱 That’s like taking 1.6 million gas-powered cars off the road!
Engineering Marvels
Chinese engineers smashed records in May by extracting a 38.1-meter concrete core sample during construction. The reservoir will fill in two stages, reaching full capacity by October 2025, boosting energy coordination across the Jinsha River’s cascade power stations. ⚡
Powering the Future
Once fully operational in 2026, Yebatan’s clean energy will flow to central China via the Jinshang-Hubei ±800 kV UHV DC line—the world’s highest-altitude hybrid hydropower-solar transmission project. This aligns with China’s push for sustainable growth and a greener energy mix. 🌏
"This project is a game-changer for regional development and national carbon goals," said Du Xiaofan, a lead engineer at the site. Let’s stay plugged in for updates! 🔌
