Station near earthquake's epicenter back online

subscribe

After 125 hours of rush repairs on damage caused by the major earthquake in Sichuan Province, the Zipingpu hydropower station resumed its power supply to the provincial grid. The station is located about 30 kilometers from the quake's epicenter.

All four units at the station suffered major damage, including generating equipment and outgoing lines. A team of experts led by Qiao Yong, Vice Minister of Water Resources, supervised repairs. Maintenance was carried out with support from Zipingpu Hydropower Development Company Limited, which owns the Zipingpu Water Control Project. As of May 17, three of the units were reconnected to the grid.

The Zipingpu Water Control Project is one of 10 key projects in the nation's West Development Program. The project comprises a 760-megawatt (MW) power station and a 156-meter-high concrete face rockfill dam with a total reservoir capacity of 1.126 billion cubic meters. The team of experts found that the dam was partially damaged by the quake but remains stable and safe overall.

For safety reasons, local authorities have decided to reduce the reservoir's water level as soon as possible. Resuming operation at the power station could improve the project's discharge capacity and ensure the dam's safety, as well as the power supply during ongoing rescue efforts.

According to the latest report from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, 27 power plants were disconnected from the grid after the earthquake. As of May 18, seven power stations have resumed operation, and four have resumed power supply for plant service.

Most of the power plants that remain disconnected from the grid belong to the hydropower group in Maoxian County in northern Sichuan.

Related News

dwight ball

N.L., Ottawa agree to shield ratepayers from Muskrat Falls cost overruns

ST JOHNS - Ottawa and Newfoundland and Labrador say they will rewrite the financial structure of the Muskrat Falls hydro project to shield ratepayers from paying for the megadam's cost overruns.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan and Premier Dwight Ball announced Monday that their two governments would scrap the financial structure agreed upon in past federal-provincial loan agreements, moving to a model that redirects benefits to ratepayers.

Both politicians called the announcement, which was light on dollar figures, a major milestone in easing residents' fears that electricity rates will spike sharply when the over-budget dam comes fully online next year.
"We…

READ MORE

Sustaining U.S. Nuclear Power And Decarbonization

READ MORE

Peterborough Distribution sold to Hydro One for $105 million.

READ MORE

russia-builds-power-lines-to-reactivate-zaporizhzhia-plant

Russia Builds Power Lines to Reactivate Zaporizhzhia Plant

READ MORE

wires logo

Senate Committee Advised by WIRES Counsel That Electric Transmission Still Faces Barriers to Development

READ MORE