Fundamentals of Renewable Energy | CASE STUDY | HYDROPOWER Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant 21,000 MW Conventional Impoundment Hydroelectric Generation The 21 GW Three Gorges Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant conventional impoundment hydropower facility is the world’s largest power station of any kind in terms of installed capacity, but is second to the Itaipu Binational Hydroelectric Power Plant in terms of annual generation output. References http://japanfocus.org/-­‐Peter-­‐Bosshard/3262 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam http://www.power-­‐technology.com/projects/gorges/ As well as producing electricity, the Three Gorges Dam is intended to increase the Yangtze River's shipping capacity and reduce the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage space. However, the dam flooded archaeological and cultural sites, displaced some 1.2 million peo-­‐
ple, and is having significant ecological conse-­‐
quences. The dam was expected to provide 10% of China's power. However, demand has in-­‐
creased more quickly than planned and it now supports about 3% of 2006 demand. The Three Gorges Dam is 594 feet tall, 7,661 feet long with a catchment area of 390,000 square miles. The gravity dam impounds 39 cubic kilo-­‐
meters and has a hydraulic head rating of 264 feet (maximum head: 371 feet). CleanEnergy | ACTION PROJECT
Location: Date Commissioned: Rated Capacity: Annual Production: Capacity Factor: Carbon Offset: Owner: Generation Offtaker: Generation Technology: Cost: Yangtze River, Hubei Province, China 2008 (to expand to 22.5 GW in 2012). Construction began in 1994. 21 GW (to expand to 22.5 GW in 2012). 85,000 GWh per year 46.2% Unknown China Yangtze Power (subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation). State Grid Corporation (32) 700 MW and (2) 50 MW Francis-­‐type hydro turbines. Generators were manufactured by (2) joint ventures: Alston/ABB Group/Kvaerner/Haerbin Motor and Voith/GE/Siemens. $27.5 billion http://www.cleanenergyactionproject.com/