World's largest pumped storage hydropower station begins full operations in China's Hebei

A groundbreaking achievement for North China's Hebei province took place on December 31 with the full-scale launch of the Fengning Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Station, marking a significant step forward in the region’s efforts to build a new energy system.

The Fengning station, now the largest pumped storage facility in the world in terms of installed capacity, began its full operations after the final of its 12 units went live, Caliber.Az reports via Chinese media.

This milestone solidifies its position at the forefront of global energy infrastructure.

The station has set four world records, including those for installed capacity, energy storage capacity, the scale of underground powerhouses, and the scale of underground cavern groups. With a massive total installed capacity of 3.6 million kilowatts, it is poised to generate over 6.6 billion kilowatt-hours annually. This is enough to power about 2.6 million households each year, according to State Grid Xinyuan Hebei Fengning Pumped Storage Co.

Pumped storage hydroelectric power stations play a crucial role in energy management. These systems work by using excess energy during periods of low demand to pump water from a lower reservoir to a higher one. During peak demand, the stored water is released to generate electricity, balancing the grid and providing a reliable, efficient source of energy storage and supply.

The Fengning station’s construction, which began in 1995, was a monumental engineering challenge. The project overcame complex geological conditions to build super-large underground caverns, enabling it to provide green electricity reliably to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Hebei province is pushing forward with several other pumped storage energy projects. With a total planned construction scale of 29.97 million kilowatts, Hebei’s installed and approved pumped storage capacity ranks among the highest in the country, according to the Hebei Development and Reform Commission.

This new phase of power generation in Hebei exemplifies China’s commitment to sustainable and reliable energy infrastructure, setting the stage for a more energy-efficient and greener future for the region and beyond.

By Tamilla Hasanova