Tibet mega dam

 

China approves Tibet mega dam that could generate 3 times more power than Three Gorges



China has approved the construction of a colossal hydropower project on Tibet’s longest river that could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
The mega hydropower project, set to be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet autonomous region, presents unprecedented engineering challenges. Total investment in the dam could exceed 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion), which would dwarf any other single infrastructure project on the planet.

The Yarlung Tsangpo flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving out the deepest canyon on Earth and covering a staggering vertical difference of 7,667 metres (25,154 feet), before reaching India, where it is known as the Brahmaputra River. The dam will be built in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China. The project is expected to generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. By contrast, the Three Gorges Dam, which now has the world’s largest installed capacity, was designed to produce 88.2 billion kWh.

In 2020, Yan Zhiyong, then chairman of state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, said the location on the Yarlung Tsangpo was one of the most hydropower-rich areas in the world. “The lower reaches area features a vertical drop of 2,000 metres over a 50km (31 miles) distance, representing nearly 70 million kilowatts of resources that could be developed – that is more than three Three Gorges Dams with an installed capacity of 22.5 million kilowatts,” he said.

Constructing this massive project will present unprecedented technical and engineering challenges. To harness the hydropower potential of the river, four to six 20km-long tunnels must be drilled through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the river’s flow at about 2,000 cubic metres per second.

Additionally, the project site is located along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes may occur, and the geology of the plateau differs significantly from that of the plains. According to a 2023 report, the hydropower station is expected to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity each year – enough to meet the annual needs of over 300 million people. Xinhua said the hydropower project would prioritise ecological protection.

“Through extensive geological explorations and technical advancements, a solid foundation has been laid for the science-based, secure and high-quality development of the project,” it said. The dam will also drive the development of nearby solar and wind energy resources, adding to the region’s clean energy base, Xinhua said.

“This represents a major move in China’s green and low-carbon energy transition,” the report said. “It is also of great importance to advancing the country’s strategy for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and to coping with global climate change.” The report did not specify when construction would begin, and the project’s exact location has not been disclosed.

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