Dachaoshan
Location: Yunnan
Operator: SDIC Electric Power Co
Configuration: 6 X 225 MW Francis
Operation: 2001-2003
T/G supplier: Canadian General Electric
EPC: Kunming Hydropower Design Institute, China Gezhouba Group Corp
Quick facts: The $950mn Jinghong plant is one of six power stations on the middle and lower Lancang River and is located 400km upstream from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Feasibility studies for the site started in 1993 in consortium with MDX Power Co (now GMS Power). In January 2005, Harbin Electric and Alstom were awarded the contract for the Jinghong T/G sets. The first unit went commercial on 17 Jun 2008 at 830am. The project has a RCC gravity dam, ship lock, flood discharge works, and T&D facilities.

Photograph courtesy of Ningxia University School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering
Posted 6 Sep 2008

Gelantan
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Datang Lixianjiang Hydropower Development Co Ltd
Configuration: 3 X 150 MW Francis
Operation: 2008
T/G supplier: Harbin
EPC: Beifang Investigation Design & Research Co, Sinohydro Bureau 14
Quick facts: In Oct 2002, Datang Lixianjiang Hydropower Development Co Ltd was established to build a new hydropower station as part of a cascade development on the Lixianjiang River in Simao district, Pu’er City. The development company was invested by Datang Power (70% equity), Beijing State Power Anrong Energy Source Investment Co (25%), and Yunnan Simao State Assets Management Co (5%). A 113m tall, 466m long RCC dam was built for the project. River closing works started in Jan 2006 and impoundment began in July 2008. All three units were online by Dec 2008.The plant cost about Rmb 3bn. Beifang Investigation, Gelantan generates about 2,000 GWh/yr.

Photograph courtesy of www.powerfoo.com
Posted 10 Aug 2011

 Liuping
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Aba Hydroelectricity Development Co Ltd
Configuration: 3 X 40 MW
Operation: 2009
T/G supplier: Chongqing
EPC: Sinohydro
Quick facts: Liuping is in Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and is the final plant in the Heshui River cascade. Construction started in Sep 2005, but the site is only 65km from the epicenter of the Wenchuan County earthquake of May 2008 and the construction process was considerably interrupted.

Photograph courtesy of Sinohydro
Posted 18 Apr 2009

Malutang
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd
Configuration: 2 X 50 MW, 3 X 100 MW Francis
Operation: 2004-2010
T/G supplier: GE Hydro Asia
EPC: Kunming Hydropower Design Institute, China Gezhouba Group, China International Water & Electric Corp, Guangxi Hydropower Engineering Bureau
Quick facts: In Jan 2002, construction started the Malutang plant on the Panlong River in Malipo County, Wenshan Zhuang/Miao Autonomous Prefecture. A 40m, concrete gravity dam and two 50-MW Francis T/G sets were completed in October 2004 and January 2005, respectively, around 6mos ahead of schedule. In August 2005, work got underway on an extension with three 100-MW Francis sets. The first set went online in December 2009 and the extension was completed in May 2010. Average plant output is 1,800 GWh/yr.

Photograph courtesy of ynws.gov.cn
Posted 10 Aug 2011 

 Manwan
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Huaneng Lancang Hydropower Co Ltd
Configuration: 5 X 250 MW Francis
Operation: 1993-1995
T/G supplier: Dongfang
EPC: China National Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, Kunming Hydropower Design Institute
Quick facts: This is the first of a planned series of dams and power stations on the lower Lancangjiang. Design provision was made for a sixth generating unit and a 300-MW set was commissioned in 2007.

Nalan
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Datang International Power Generation Co
Configuration: 3 X 50 MW
Operation: 2005-2006
T/G supplier: ??
EPC: Kunming Hydropower Design Institute
Quick facts: Development of this plant on the Tengtiao River started in 2002. Datang owns 51% of the project, which cost about RMB 860mn.

Photograph courtesy of Datang International Power Generation Co
Posted 7 Sep 2008

Nuozhadu
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Huaneng Lancang Hydropower Co Ltd
Configuration: 9 X 650 MW Francis
Operation: 2012-2014
T/G supplier: Voith, Tiangin Alstom Hydro, Dongfang
EPC: Sinohydro, Kunming Hydropower Design Institute, Sinohydro Bureau 14
Quick facts: In Apr 2004, preparatory work began on the Nuozhadu hydroelectric plant on the Lancang River in Simao Prefecture. The project received final NDRC approval in March 2011. Nuozhadu will serve mostly for power generation, but will also provide flood control for Jinghong City as well as improve downstream navigation. Annual production is expected to be on the order of 24 TWh. The 261.5m gravel core rockfill dam is China’s largest of its kind and the third largest in the world. Also included in the civil works are an open spillway on the left bank, flood releasing tunnels on both banks, extensive downstream bank protection, and an underground powerhouse on the left bank. The maximum design flood spillway discharge is 31,318m³, ranking first in the world for this type of design. The units are to commission progressively from 2012 to 2014, about two years earlier than originally expected. China Huaneng estimates the total cost at Rmb 45bn.

Photograph courtesy of yn.yunnan.cn
Posted 10 Aug 2011 

Tianhuaban
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Yunnan Hydropower Development Co Ltd
Configuration: 2 X 90 Francis
Operation: 2011
T/G supplier: ??
EPC:Hydropower Beijing Engineering Corp and Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 3 Co Ltd
Quick facts: In Sep 2006, drilling began for the diversion tunnels for the Tianhuaban hydroelectric plant on the Jinsha River in Ludian Ping Township, Zhaotong City. The scheme includes a 113m RCC arch dam and a surface powerhouse 2.5km downstream. Machinery deliveries started in Mar 2008, and the first unit began testing in Oct 2009. Commercial operation for Units 2 and 1 was in Feb and Mar 2011, respectively.

Photograph by qif1888 (qjf1688.blog.163.com)
Posted 10 Aug 2011

 Xiaowan
Location: Yunnan
Operator: Yunnan Huaneng Lancang Hydropower Co
Configuration: 6 X 714 MW Francis
Operation: 2009-2010
T/G supplier: Voith, Dongfang, Alstom, Harbin
EPC: Northwest Hydro Consulting Engineers, China Gezhouba Group Corp
Quick facts: In Jun 2000, preparations were completed for construction of this hydraulic power station on the middle reaches of the Lancang River. The preliminary plant design was approved in 1995. 60% of the power from the Rmb 32.4bn plant is destined for export to Guangdong and Hong Kong. In Oct 2004, the river was dammed after three years of effort and full construction began on the 292m hyperbolic arch dam, the world’s tallest of its kind. The main equipment contracts were awarded in Jan 2005 and the first unit went commercial on 25 Sep 2009. Annual output of the completed plant is expected to be about 19 TWh.

Photograph courtesy of Sinohydro
Posted 18 Apr 2009

 Xiludou
Location: Yunnan
Operator: China Yangtze Power Co Ltd
Configuration: 18 X 770 MW Francis
Operation: 2013-2017
T/G supplier: Voith, Dongfang, Harbin
EPC: China Gezhouba Group, Sinohydro Bureau 14
Quick facts: The immense Xiludou plant is expected to start commissioning in 2013. The photo is ca Jul 2011 and shows the dam about half poured.

Photograph courtesy of yunnanpower.cn
Posted 20 Jul 2011