Lianghekou hydropower project reaches major milestone in China

China is advancing the Lianghekou Pumped Storage Hydropower Complex, a $12 billion project located at an altitude of 3,000 meters on the Tibet-Sichuan plateau. The project, situated on the Yalong River, is designed to function as a massive water-based battery to support clean energy stability.

Expected to be fully operational by 2028, the complex aims for a total installed capacity of 4.2 GW. This includes 3.0 GW from the Lianghekou Hydropower Plant, which began operations in March 2022, and an additional 1.2 GW from four hybrid pumped storage units. The facility is expected to produce approximately 11 billion kWh of electricity annually, with an additional 1.4 billion kWh provided through the pumped storage cycle.

Engineers have recently completed the excavation of a 650-meter-deep vertical shaft, a record-breaking feat given the complex geological conditions of the high-altitude region. The project will also provide load balancing services for 7 GW to 20 GW of wind and solar power capacity in western Sichuan.