Yangtze hydropower key to green goals

China has further cemented its position as a global leader in harnessing the power of its rivers to generate clean and renewable energy, as the world's largest clean energy corridor consisting of six hydropower stations along the Yangtze River is generating more green power than ever, said industry experts.

The mammoth green corridor generated more than 276 billion kilowatt-hours of clean power last year, a 5.34 percent year-on-year increase, said its operator China Three Gorges Corp.

That is equivalent to saving 83 million metric tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 200 million tons, it said.

An analyst said China's expertise in developing large-scale hydroelectric projects has positioned it as an international hub for hydropower innovation and collaboration.

Hydropower will continue to play a pivotal role in China's energy transition while ensuring sufficient power supply, said Luo Zuoxian, head of intelligence and research at the Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute.

China's hydropower capacity is a sustainable solution for meeting the country's growing green energy needs, providing it with a stable and reliable source of electricity. The versatility of hydropower also makes it a valuable asset for grid stability, Luo said.

Shannon Dong, an analyst with BloombergNEF, said despite a dip in overall hydropower generation in 2023, electricity output at the six mega hydropower stations expanded — contributing over 20 percent of China's hydropower generation.

"With the help of ultra-high voltage transmission lines, green electricity produced along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze was delivered to southern and eastern power demand centers, such as Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces," she said.

"The clean energy corridor will be a significant boost to China's west-to-east power transmission program and accelerate decarbonization progress."

With a total installed capacity of 71.7 million kilowatts, the 1,800-kilometer corridor comprises six mega hydropower stations on the Yangtze, the largest river in China. Made up of 110 generating units, it transmits power from the resource-rich west to energy-consuming regions in the east.

Four of them, Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba, are located along the Jinsha River, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, while the other two — Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba — are situated on the middle section of the Yangtze River.

Global consultancy Accenture said in a report that hydropower's ability to rapidly adjust output levels and respond in time to peak demand periods ensures consistent and reliable power supplies, thus contributing to the overall stability of China's power grid, preventing shortages and supporting the integration of intermittent renewable sources.

It believes various regulatory resources such as pumped storage hydropower will play key roles in adjusting the power balance and flexibility regulations in China.

The clean energy corridor also plays a major role in flood control, shipping, water resources utilization and ecological security in the Yangtze River Basin, said the corporation.

By regulating water flows and providing flood control, these projects help mitigate the impact of extreme weather events, thus ensuring water availability for agriculture, industry and communities downstream, it said.