The Zhen’an pumped-storage power project is a 1,400MW stored hydroelectric facility under construction on the main stream of Yuehe River in Zhen’an County, Shaanxi province, China.
Shaanxi Zhen’an Pumped Storage Company, a subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), is the implementing authority of the CNY8.85bn ($1.32bn) project. Shaanxi Zhen’an spent CNY143.97m ($22.2m) for land acquisition and resettlement of the project.
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The Zhen’an power station will be the first pumped storage power station in the north-west region of China and the biggest hydropower station in Shaanxi province.
Construction works on the project began in August 2016 and are expected to be completed over a period of 70 months. The power plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.
Zhen’an project location and significance
The Zhen’an project is being developed in the Dongyang village near Yuehe town in Zhen’an County, Shaanxi province, China.
It is located 74km away from the Zhen’an county and 134km from the highway at Xian. It is expected to employ 13,700 people at the peak of its construction phase. The annual power generation capacity of the project is estimated to be 2,341GWh.
The project will reduce the dependence on 117,000t of standard coal a year and respectively avoid carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions of 0.30 million tonnes (Mt) and 0.28Mt.
Zhen’an project background and details
Northwest Survey and Design Institute, China, started a survey on the project in 2010. The pre-feasibility report was submitted in 2011 while the feasibility report was submitted in 2013.
Construction works on the project were started in August 2016, approximately five months following the receipt of approval for the same.
Construction works on the upper and lower reservoir are in progress as of May 2019. First of the four pump-turbine and motor-generator units is expected to be commissioned by the end of March 2023. All the units of the project will be commissioned by December 2023.
The major structures of the pumped storage power station include upper and lower reservoirs, water delivery system, underground powerhouse, and switchyards.
The reservoir dams are concrete-faced rock-filled dams, with the maximum dam height of the upper and lower reservoirs being 125.9m and 95m, respectively.
The total storage capacity of the upper reservoir is 9.36 million cubic metres (MCM) and its water storage level is 1,392m. The lower reservoir capacity is 13.22MCM and its water storage level is 945m.
The underground powerhouse erected near the project site will each integrate four 350MW reversible pump-turbines and motor-generator units.
Zhen’an project substation details
The electricity generated by the Zhen’an pumped-storage power project will be fed to the Shaanxi power grid to meet the electricity needs of the region.
The Zhen’an pumped-storage project will be connected to the 750kV substation in south Xian.
Contractors involved in Zhen’an pumped-storage power project
Northwest Survey and Design Institute, China, performed selection planning, survey, and design of the project.
Austrian company Andritz was awarded a contract to supply four 350MW reversible pump turbines, motor generators, and associated equipment, in December 2018.
The civil construction works on the project are being carried out by the first branch of the Hydropower Bureau, a subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China.
