Maerdang hydropower station, the highest-altitude facility of its kind on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, went into full operation as the #2 generator, the last one of all five, was successfully connected to grid on December 31.

The station, operated by CHN Energy, is located 3,000 meters above sea level along the Yellow River in Qinghai province and has a total installed capacity of 2.32 gigawatts.

A view of the Maerdang hydropower station in Qinghai province.

As the highest-altitude station in the mainstream of the Yellow River, Maerdang plays a crucial role in China’s West-to-East Power Transmission initiative, bringing power from Qinghai province to Henan province.

The station also maximizes the utilization of surrounding new energy resources, integrating hydro, wind and solar power in a multi-energy complementary approach. This base is pivotal for Qinghai's clean energy industry development, contributing to a greener, more efficient and lower-carbon national energy system.

A view of the Maerdang hydropower station in Qinghai province.

Construction presented extreme challenges due to the high altitude, cold climate and oxygen levels only 60% of those at sea level. Despite these difficulties, the project progressed continuously, achieving remarkable results and the impressive feat of commissioning five generators in one year—a rare accomplishment in China's hydropower sector.

Maerdang is at the forefront of technological innovation, being the first hydropower station in China to implement key technologies enabling flexible adjustments to unit operation based on grid demand, thus providing stable reactive power support. The station also features the iDCS system, integrating artificial intelligence, industrial big data analysis, the Industrial Internet, and advanced control technologies for safer, more efficient, flexible and environmentally responsible power generation.

Environmental protection has been paramount throughout the project. Adopting a build-and-restore approach, the project invested 150 million RMB in ecological restoration and vegetation recovery, achieving a restoration index of over 100% within the construction area. Moreover, two fish-lifting devices installed at the base of the dam effectively mitigate the impact on rare fish species in the Yellow River Basin, helping maintain the delicate balance of aquatic life.

Various vegetation planted around Maerdang hydropower station.

Upon completion, Maerdang hydropower station is expected to generate an average of over 7.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to meet the need of over 1.8 million households.