On September 2, all five units at CHN Energy’s Maerdang Hydropower Station in Qinghai Province operated at full capacity, achieving a daily electricity output of 40.28 million kWh. With an average load rate of 80% and 100% water energy utilization, the station set a new record for daily generation this year, attributed to sustained abundant water flow in the upper reaches of the Yellow River.
Located in Maqen County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, at an average altitude of 3,300 meters, Maerdang Hydropower Station has a total installed capacity of 2.32 GW. It is not only the highest-altitude and largest-capacity hydropower station on the main stream of the Yellow River but also the core project of the first integrated clean energy base in the Qinghai section of the upper Yellow River, combining hydro, wind, solar and storage technologies with a total capacity of over 10 GW. It is a key power source for the West-East Power Transmission and Qinghai Power to Henan initiatives.
Amid overlapping flood season and peak electricity demand, the station has adopted an “every kilowatt-hour counts” approach. By establishing morning and evening meeting mechanisms, strengthening 24/7 emergency duty, and closely collaborating with grid operators, meteorological and water resources departments, the station accurately forecasts water inflow and dynamically optimizes generation plans to maximize water resource potential. Meanwhile, comprehensive inspections have been carried out to identify potential equipment risks, with enhanced maintenance of power generation and transformation equipment, stability control systems and grid connection lines. Special patrols and protection measures have been implemented for critical structures including the dam, plant buildings and transmission lines, ensuring high operational reliability.
Statistics show that Maerdang has generated over 3.2 billion kWh of electricity by far this year. Since the first unit was connected to the grid on April 1, 2024, cumulative generation has exceeded 6.1 billion kWh—all from green energy. This clean electricity output is equivalent to saving approximately 1.07 million tons of standard coal, providing strong support for regional ecological improvement and green development.
