The photo is sourced from 22century.ru
The full rated capacity of the Baihetan Dam will make 16 GW: this project will be behind the Three Gorges Dam in China (22.5 GW), but will be ahead of the Itaipu Dam in Brazil (14 GW) – the last of the top three major hydropower plants of the world. The Baihetan Dam will be generating 62.4 terawatt-hour (TW-h) annually, which is comparable to the annual power consumption of Switzerland (64.9 TW-h according to BP Statistical Review). The Baihetan Dam water reservoir will be used to control the flow of the Jinsha River – the headstream of the Yangtze River. Operating the Baihetan Dam will allow to avoid emitting 51.6 mln tons of carbon dioxide annually (the equivalent of annual emissions of the Greek energy sector), as well as 19.7 mln tons of coal, 170 thou tons of sulfur dioxide, 150 thou tons of nitrogen dioxide.
China is the global leader in hydropower plants construction. According to Ember research centre, in 2021 PRC accounted for 80% the global power increment for hydropower plants (14.6 GW out of total 18.3 GW); at the same time, its share in commissioning wind and solar energy generators made 50% (46.9 GW out of total 93.4 GW) and 40% (53 GW out of total 133.5 GW) respectively. China is also participating in building hydropower plants in the developing countries of Africa. For example, the Chinese National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC) committed to cover 75% of cost for building the Zungeru Dam in Nigeria (700 MW), the first unit of which was commissioned in spring of 2022. After bringing it to the full capacity, the project will cover 10% of total energy consumption of Nigeria.
