December 30th (AMSP/CGTN) – – A diversion hydropower station with the largest tunnel diameter in China officially started operation on Saturday, according to its operator China Huaneng Group.
The Huaneng Yingliangbao Hydropower Station is located in Luding County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, with a total installed capacity of 1.116 million kilowatts.
According to the terrain characteristics, the power station adopts a working method of long tunnel water diversion. By building two 14.4-kilometer-long diversion tunnels, the water level difference is increased from 26 meters to 116 meters to generate green power. The maximum excavation diameter of the tunnel is 16.7 meters, which set a new record for tunnels of its kind in China.
“After the power station is put into operation, it will be able to provide more than 5.18 billion kWh of clean energy each year, which can meet the normal needs of 2.15 million households in one year. This is equivalent to saving about 1.55 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.07 million tons, which is of positive significance in helping to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals,” said Guo Zhizhong, chief engineer of the power station project.
In order to solve engineering geological problems such as seepage deformation, the project group innovatively developed and applied advanced equipment and technologies, realizing unmanned operation of the entire vibroflotation construction process.
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CGTN