Amidst the towering mountains of the western Sichuan Plateau, the surging Dadu River will welcome a new "dispatcher". Recently, with the issuance of an approval document, a giant hydropower station with a total investment of 15.273 billion yuan and a planned installed capacity of 1.15 million kilowatts, the Danba Hydropower Station, has finally obtained the "pass" for comprehensive construction. This is not only a key chess piece for China National Electric Power in the clean energy chessboard, but also adds a unique story of traditional energy transformation and the integration of emerging industry capital due to the cross-border investment of new energy vehicle battery giant CATL.

Not only for power generation, but also for ecological considerations

The Danba Hydropower Station is located in Danba County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is the 9th cascade of 28 hydropower stations on the main stream of the Dadu River. The core of the project is to install four 275000 kilowatt main generator sets, with an average annual designed power generation of 4.718 billion kilowatt hours. It is worth mentioning that the project is also equipped with a 50000 kilowatt ecological unit, aimed at ensuring the ecological flow of downstream rivers, reflecting the modern hydropower concept of balancing development and protection.

By the end of 2025, the project has fully obtained all key supporting documents such as site selection, environmental impact assessment, land use, resettlement, and soil and water conservation, laying a solid foundation for legal and compliant construction.

Leading by central enterprises, cross-border alliance of industrial capital

The investment and operation entity of the project - Guoneng Daduhe (Danba) Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., has a clear equity structure and presents the characteristics of diversified collaboration:

Controlling party: Guoneng Dadu River Basin Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Guodian Electric Power, holds 56.11% of the shares and leads the project promotion.

Partner: Sichuan Tieneng Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. holds 33.89% of the shares, and Ningde Times New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. holds 10% of the shares.

This combination breaks the single mode of traditional large-scale hydropower projects dominated by central energy enterprises, and introduces local state-owned assets and global leading green technology enterprises. Based on a total investment of 15.273 billion yuan and a capital ratio of 30%, the controlling party Daduhe Company needs to directly contribute approximately 2.571 billion yuan. The project has been approved by the board of directors of Guodian Electric Power on December 29, 2025, and the procedures are compliant, so there is no need to submit it to the shareholders' meeting for review.

Long term considerations under stable expectations

According to calculations, after the completion of Danba Hydropower Station, the annual utilization hours can reach 4103 hours. Referring to the current electricity pricing policies in Sichuan Province, the on grid electricity price for the project is temporarily implemented at 0.2974 yuan per kilowatt hour (including tax). Under benchmark financing conditions, the expected internal rate of return on project capital is 5.95%, demonstrating stable investment return potential. Keywords: Engineering construction news, latest infrastructure information

Guodian Electric Power stated that the project is highly aligned with the national clean energy strategy and the company's development plan, and will significantly enhance the company's clean energy supply capacity and market competitiveness in the southwest region. The company also pointed out the risks faced by the project, such as policy adjustments, changes in approval conditions, fluctuations in financing environment, and long-term market uncertainty. It promised to scientifically coordinate and ensure the smooth progress of the project.Editor/Yang Meiling