Recently, the Power Construction Corporation of China (Power) unveiled a huge investment plan: the Shaanxi Shahe Pumped Storage Power Station Project, which will cost 9.876 billion yuan to build a pumped storage power station with a total installed capacity of up to 1,400 megawatts, marking another important layout for China's renewable energy use and grid flexibility.

As a mature energy storage solution, pumped storage technology is based on the use of surplus power during the off-load period of the grid to lift the water to a high reservoir for storage, and release the flow of water to drive turbine power generation when demand peaks, so as to balance the supply and demand of the grid and enhance the resilience of the power system. The Shahe project is located in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, which is an ideal place to implement this technology due to its unique natural resources and geographical conditions. The project is not only included in the core scope of the national Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Pumped Storage (2021-2035), but also indicates China's strong commitment to optimizing the energy structure and protecting the ecological environment in Northwest China.

The Shahe Pumped Storage Power Station stands out with its 1,400MW installed capacity and 483-metre rated head, with a pitch-to-height ratio of 4.66, demonstrating the project's excellent design in terms of efficiency and stability. It is expected that the annual power generation capacity will reach 1.939 billion kWh, which not only greatly enhances the power self-sufficiency of the northwest region, but also reflects China's deep accumulation and innovation ability in the field of pumped storage technology. The optimization of the distance-to-height ratio is the key to the efficient operation of the project, ensuring the efficient recycling of water energy.

The implementation of the project is not only a strong promotion of the development of green energy, but also a vivid interpretation of the win-win model of environmental protection and economic benefits. By promoting the consumption of renewable energy such as wind power and photovoltaic power, and reducing about 1 billion kWh of wind and solar power, the project is expected to save 300,000 tons of standard coal, 783,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 2,500 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions every year, which is of immeasurable value for improving regional air quality and responding to climate change. At the same time, the direct and indirect economic benefits brought by the project, including job creation, tax contribution and industrial chain pull, will inject strong impetus into the local economic and social development.

The launch of the Shahe Pumped Storage Power Station project is not only another milestone in China's pumped storage technology innovation, but also a solid step to promote the transformation of the energy structure and achieve green development. With the successful implementation of the project, its successful experience and technical achievements are expected to be widely promoted across the country, further accelerating the greening process of China's and even the world's energy structure. In the future, more similar projects will emerge, which will jointly weave a grand blueprint for China's green energy development.Editor/Jiang Mingyue