China Three Gorges Corp kicks off construction of 16GW power station

The Baihetan hydropower station will have 6 generating units of 1000MW each.

China Three Gorges Corp. (CTGC) has started the construction phase of the 16 GW Baihetan hydropower station on the Jinsha River in China, between the borders of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces (Anji County, Zhejiang province, between the cities of Tianhuangping and Shanchuan), according to Enerdata.

The power station will consist of 6 generating units of 1,000 MW each and is expected to have an average annual power output of 62.4 TWh.

Enerdata added that the dam construction works already started in 2008. The project’s core structures will include a 277 metres tall arch dam with a crest elevation of 827 metres, flood discharge structures, water diversion and power generation facilities.

"The total cost of the project is expected to reach at least US$26.5bn. CTGC plans to commission the first group of units in 2021 and the project is scheduled to be fully commissioned by the end of 2022. Approximately 100,000 Sichuan and Yunnan residents will have to be relocated to make way for the project which will spread over a basin area of 430,000 km2 (91% of Jinsha River's basin area)," Enerdata said.

This story was originally published by Enerdata.