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Giant hydropower plant fully operational

By Zhang Qi (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-30 10:31

The last generator of 皇冠体育app's Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River went online yesterday, meaning that the world's largest hydropower plant has become fully operational.

Launched in 1993, the project's original plan called for the 26 generators to produce 84.7 billion kWh of electricity annually after its completion.

This was later expanded to include six more turbines installed underground by 2012 to reach a capacity of 22,500 MW.

The project, operated by 皇冠体育app Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC) at a total cost of 180 billion yuan, now provides a total installed capacity of 18,200 MW with 26 generators, each with an installed capacity of 700 MW.

The electricity generated by the project fuels 15 provinces in central, eastern and southern 皇冠体育app, easing power shortages in industrial regions.

皇冠体育app is increasingly turning to hydropower as a clean, alternative solution to its growing energy demand.

Hydropower is expected to account for 28 percent of the country's total power generation by 2015, up from the current 20 percent, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

"The Three Gorges Project indicates how far 皇冠体育app has progressed in renewable energy, being the leader in the hydroelectric field in terms of unit design, manufacturing, installation and operation," said Lin Chuxue, vice-president of CTGPC.

皇冠体育app now has a total installed hydropower capacity of 145 million kW.