China has approved plans for the construction of what is expected to be the largest hydropower dam complex in the world, capable of generating nearly three times the amount of power produced by the current record-holder, the Three Gorges Dam.
The project is set to be located on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, near the border of India, with an estimated cost of US$137 billion. This project is part of China’s 14th “Five-Year Plan,” which includes goals to promote renewable energy and combat pollution. The chosen location for the dam is strategically positioned to take advantage of the river’s steep terrain, allowing for the generation of a record-breaking 300 billion kilowatt-hours per year.
That amount of energy production equates to 300 TWh, which is sufficient to power up to 300 million individuals in China. Currently, the Three Gorges Dam, situated on the Yangtze River in China, holds the title for the largest installed capacity and annual hydroelectricity generation, producing between 95 and 112 TWh per year. The proposed Yarlung Tsangpo Hydroelectric Project aims to surpass the Three Gorges Dam’s production by nearly threefold.
For comparison, the largest hydroelectric power plant in the US is the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington, producing approximately 20 TWh annually. In contrast, the Hoover Dam on the Nevada/Arizona border generates around 4.2 TWh per year. The Yarlung Zangbo River, which transforms into the Brahmaputra in India, is one of the highest rivers globally, originating from the Angsi Glacier in Tibet.
The river has played a significant role in carving out the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, which is situated within a region vulnerable to earthquakes due to tectonic activity. The canyon is one of the deepest globally, reaching a depth of 19,714 ft (6,009 m) and spanning a length of 313.5 miles (504.6 km), surpassing the length of the Grand Canyon in the US.
With a drop of approximately 25,152 ft (7,667 m) from its highest point to India, the Yarlung Zangbo River is considered one of the most hydroelectrically rich rivers worldwide. A specific 31-mile (50-km) segment near the Namcha Barwa mountain features a 6,562-ft (2,000-m) drop, making it an ideal location for a hydroelectric power station.
Constructing a dam in this region would necessitate the creation of multiple 12.5-mile (20-km) tunnels to divert the river, which flows at a rate of approximately 70,600 cubic feet per second (2,000 cubic meters) – enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools every second.
Concerns have been raised by authorities in neighboring India, downstream from the project, regarding China’s control over the river’s flow and the potential impacts across the border. Chinese officials assert that thorough geological studies have been conducted in the seismically active area and believe construction can be safely completed. However, no specific timeline has been established for the project’s construction.
Source: South China Morning Post
