This is the biggest hydroelectric bet in China

In the middle of remote mountains, at 3000 meters of altitude, China follows configuring your electrical networks Towards an energy transition model. From Harbin, in the northeast of the country, a gigantic 80 tons turbine headed for Tibet left this week. Its destination: the Datang Zala hydroelectric plant, where the power of water will be transformed into electricity thanks to an unprecedented machine.

Short. In a great official ceremony, the delivery of a large pelton -type impulse turbine was held with a unit capacity of 500 megawatts, designed and manufactured by Harbin Electric Machinery Company Limited, as He has reported The Xinhua state agency. The size is unique and striking: a diameter of 6.23 meters, made of martensitic stainless steel and has 21 precision kanglons. According to China Dailythe process took six years of research and development, and was tested in the National Laboratory of Hydroelectric Equipment.

The definitive commitment. China is distinguished by developing infrastructure from Colossal scale either Unique as a technical levelbut this time it focuses on strengthening electrical networks in strategic areas and accelerating its carbon neutrality objective by 2060. According to South China Morning Postthe turbine will reach an efficiency of 92.6%, an increase of 1.6% compared to previous turbines, which will result in additional 190,000 kWh per day. The central will have two turbines and a total installed capacity of 1 million kilowatts, generating about 4,000 million kWh per year.

Is it the most powerful? It depends on how it is measured. In terms of unitary capacity, this 500 MW impulse turbine is the most powerful of its kind in the world. However, it is not the most powerful if compared to the gigantic Chinese dams, that is, their set. On the one hand, highlight The Baihetan dam With the largest arc in the world and a total capacity of 16,000 MW, managing to supply 500,000 homes for a year. On the other hand, even more impressive, it is The three throats dam that with its 22,500 MW it holds the world installed capacity record. Of course, not without controversies: its environmental and geophysical impact has been such that has slightly altered the terrestrial rotation.

Another factor: the location. The hydroelectric power plant is being built on the Yuqu river, a tributary of the NU River (Salween), In an area geographically rugged and with strong seismic activity. The water jump that will feed the turbine has a vertical unevenness of 671 meters, which makes this installation one of the few that take advantage of such a pronounced unevenness, ideal for impulse turbines such as the Pelton type developed by Harbin, As SCMP has developed.

In addition, this is added the political context. The Tibet It is a region of historical tensions between the central Chinese authorities and the aspirations of local autonomy. Some voices see these types of projects as a way of strengthening Beijing’s strategic control over the territory, through economic development and energy infrastructure.

Forecasts. The turbine is already on its way to its destination and it is expected that the plant enters into operation in 2028. It is not just a colossal machine: it is a declaration of intentions. Toe technology, unprecedented efficiency, and a clear commitment to hydroelectric domain in one of the most complex regions of the planet.

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