On April 14, 2024, the cavern and road projects during the preparatory construction period of the Burqin Pumped Storage Power Station in Xinjiang officially started, marking that this major energy project has entered the substantive construction stage. The groundbreaking ceremony was hosted by Xinhua Burqin Pumped Storage Power Generation Co., Ltd. Machinery roared at the site, and construction workers were busy excavating traffic tunnels and ventilation and safety tunnels to lay a solid foundation for the subsequent comprehensive construction of the main project.

Shi Yang, deputy general manager of Xinhua Burqin Pumped Storage Power Generation Co., Ltd., said that since the project was approved on June 27, 2023, all work has been steadily progressing in accordance with high-quality and efficient standards. In the next step, the company plans to carry out construction work on key parts such as the lower reservoir, construction water supply, and forward campsites, and is expected to put the first unit into operation in 2030.

The power station has a unique design and consists of multiple core parts such as an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir, an underground water transmission plant system, and a ground switch station. It has a total installed capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts and a total investment of 10.3078 billion yuan. The annual power generation capacity of the power station is expected to be 2.814 billion kilowatt hours, which will provide stable and reliable power supply to the local area and surrounding areas.

Pumped hydro energy storage technology is currently the most commonly used large-scale energy storage method and is vividly called a giant power bank. It plays multiple functions in the power system, such as peak regulation and valley filling, frequency modulation and phase modulation, and emergency backup. By setting up two upper and lower reservoirs, the power station realizes the cycle process of releasing water for power generation during peak power load periods and pumping water for energy storage during low periods, effectively improving the utilization efficiency of electric energy.

After the project is completed, it will greatly alleviate the peak load regulation pressure on the Altay region's power grid, and significantly improve the absorption capacity of new energy and the reliability of power grid supply. In addition, the operation of the power station will also help reduce carbon emissions and save energy. It can save 926,000 tons of standard coal every year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.79 million tons, making a positive contribution to local and global environmental protection.

The construction of the Burqin pumped storage power station is not only an energy project, but also an important measure to promote the sustainable development of the regional economy, optimize the energy structure, and improve energy utilization efficiency. It will bring long-term economic and social benefits to the Altay region and even the wider region, and provide strong support for building a clean, low-carbon, and efficient energy system.Editor/Cheng Liting