The hydropower industry plays an important role both in China and globally, particularly in promoting energy transition and achieving the "dual carbon" goals. Here are some important news and perspectives about the hydropower industry:
The responsibility of hydropower as a flexible and reliable power source is increasing. In order to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system and the consumption of new energy electricity, the functional positioning of hydropower is shifting from the traditional focus on "electricity supply" to "balancing electricity supply and flexible regulation".
The China Hydropower Development Forum and Hydropower Science and Technology Award Ceremony were held in Beijing. Zhong Zhiyu, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources, pointed out that fulfilling the "dual carbon target" commitment, building clean energy bases, achieving water wind solar complementarity, promoting the transformation and upgrading of the power structure, and promoting high-quality development of water conservancy all rely on the scientific and orderly development of hydropower.
In the context of the new era of "dual carbon", China's hydropower development has reached a new historical position. Hydropower will play a key role in achieving the "dual carbon" goal and building a new type of power system as a reliable power source for flexible regulation in the long run.
4. Looking towards the future, the hydropower industry is facing new opportunities and challenges. The construction and operation of hydropower projects should accurately grasp the new development stage, deeply implement the new development concept, actively construct a new development pattern, and at the same time, coordinate hydropower development and ecological protection to achieve harmonious development of hydropower development and ecological environment protection.
5. It is expected that by 2030, the installed capacity of hydropower (including pumped storage) will exceed 540 million kilowatts, and hydropower development and utilization will continue to be internationally leading in the long term.
The completion of Baihetan Hydropower Station marks the establishment of the world's largest clean energy corridor on the Yangtze River in China, which is of great significance for ensuring flood control, power generation, shipping, comprehensive utilization of water resources, and water ecological security in the Yangtze River Basin.
7. China has a long history of hydropower development and has made significant progress in hydropower technology, laying a solid technical foundation for the construction of the Baihetan Hydropower Station. At present, China's hydropower has a proven installed capacity of about 687 million kilowatts, with an average annual power generation of about 3 trillion kilowatt hours.
The Baihetan Hydropower Station has 16 million kilowatt hydroelectric generating units, and its development has overcome multiple technical challenges, achieving a major breakthrough in China's high-end equipment manufacturing.
These news and perspectives demonstrate the important role of the hydropower industry in China's energy structure transformation and global emission reduction efforts, as well as China's significant progress in hydropower technology and equipment manufacturing. With the support of policies and the promotion of technological innovation, it is expected that the hydropower industry will continue to usher in new development opportunities.