Three Gorges Dam Sets World Record on Annual Power Output

The photo shows a view of the Three Gorges Dam over the Yangtze River this summer. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

By Nov 15, China's Three Gorges project had produced 103.1 billion kWh of clean power this year, setting a world record for annual power output by a single hydropower plant.

The amount of power equals that produced by burning 31.71 million tons of standard coal, eliminating 86.71 million tons of carbon dioxide, 20,600 tons of sulfur dioxide and 19,600 tons of oxynitride, giving the project a key role in building a clean, low-carbon, safe and highly-efficient energy system and promoting China's ecological civilization construction.

An indoors view of the hydropower plant of the Three Gorges project on the left bank of the Yangtze River [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Meanwhile, the project helps boost the country's social and economic development as well as the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

About 13.8 yuan ($2.10) of GDP is produced by each kWh of power. The power produced in 2020 currently means an increase of about 1.42 trillion yuan in GDP.

Such economic contribution is of great significance particularly during the epidemic period.

With a total installed capacity of 22.5 million kilowatts, the Three Gorges project is equipped with 32 700,000kW and two 50,000kW hydro-generator units and has a designed annual power generation capacity of 88.2 billion kWh.

It is a backbone power source of China's west-to-east power transmission strategy and the south-north power exchange project.

Power produced by the project has been transmitted to 10 provincial regions in Central, East and South China and has contributed to the country's economic and social development since the project's first generator unit went into operation in 2003.

A view of ships navigating through the Three Gorges Dam [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The time-exposure photo shows ships navigating along the section of the Yangtze River at Xiling Gorge in Central China's Hubei province at night. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)