The 1.2 GW project will play a role to help China achieve its goal to build more than 200 pumped storage stations with a combined capacity of 270 GW by 2025 (Source: Bloomberg). The project annual generating capacity represents approximtely 1.4 times the annual household electricity consumption in Jinzhai. Acting as a sustainable large scale energy storage system, the Jinzhai pumped storage station will save up to 89 500 tpy of coal and reduce 179 000 tpy of carbon dioxide emissions.

These pumped storage units will act as giant batteries that will help solve grid stability challenges for the province: water is pumped from the lower to the upper reservoir in times of surplus energy and, in times of demand, water from the upper reservoir is released, generating electricity as the water passes through the turbine.

Pascal Radue, President and CEO, GE Hydro Solutions, said: “Once the project is fully commissioned, the giant 1.2 GW hydro battery will offer a high level of flexibility and reliability to the local power grid. This demonstrates pumped storage solutions’ ability to solve some of the biggest challenges linked to the energy transition, in China and beyond.”

This project adds up to the 8.2 GW of pumped storage solutions GE has delivered in China, which represent more than 25% of the installed base in the country. In the world, more than 30% of hydro storage plants are equipped with GE technology.