China's $19B, 3.6GW Pumped-Hydro Facility Completed

Aug 13, 2024, 08:30 AM

China has completed the world's largest pumped-hydro energy storage facility, located in Hebei province. The $19 billion plant boasts a capacity of 3.6 gigawatts and was a flagship project designed to supply power to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. This facility is part of China's broader strategy to expand its pumped hydro capacity from the current 55 gigawatts to 120 gigawatts by 2030. The plant is notable for being the first in China to adopt AC-excited variable-speed technology, and it can generate 6.6 billion kWh of power annually.