China completes world’s tallest pumped storage dam
The 182-m Zhenjiang facility will store renewable energy for over 360,000 households.
Image for illustrative purposes
China, Jiangsu Province: China has completed construction of the Zhenjiang (Jurong) Pumped Storage Power Station, the world’s tallest pumped storage dam and a landmark in large-scale renewable energy storage. Located in Jiangsu Province, the facility stands 182 m tall – equivalent to a 60-storey skyscraper – and was completed in just eight years since construction began in 2017.
The project, built at a cost of $1.4 B (¥9.6 B, €1.3 B), will provide critical grid stability as China increases its share of renewable energy. Designed to power more than 360,000 households, the facility features six reversible turbines, each generating 225 MW, for a total installed capacity of 1.35 GW.
Operating like a “giant water battery,” the system pumps water to an upper reservoir during low-demand periods and releases it during peak hours to generate electricity. With an annual generation capacity of 1.35 billion kWh, it is expected to save 140,000 t of coal and cut 349,000 t of CO₂ emissions each year.
What sets the Zhenjiang project apart is its ability to operate efficiently at lower hydraulic heads –less than 200 m – while maintaining a high volumetric flow, a feat rarely achieved in pumped storage design. Its underground powerhouse, located 800 m below ground, spans 250 m in length and houses advanced equipment that has set ten new records in the sector.
According to Wang Chenhui, Director of Development at the State Grid Zhenjiang Power Supply Company, the project provides 2.7 million kW of bidirectional regulation capacity, helping balance peak loads and enhance grid reliability across the region.
Source: cubasi.cu
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