Fengtan Hydropower Station's Annual Power Generation Explained

Fengtan Hydropower Station's Annual Power Generation Explained

From Pioneering Design to Modern Output

Nestled in Yuanling County, Hunan Province, the Fengtan Hydropower Station stands as a marvel of Chinese hydroengineering. Since its first generator roared to life in 1978, this concrete hollow gravity arch dam has evolved into a power generation giant with an 81.5 MW total installed capacity. But how much electricity does it actually produce annually? Let's break down the numbers.

The Evolution of Power Output

• Phase 1 (1978-2004): Original 400 MW configuration delivered 2.043 billion kWh yearly
• Phase 2 (Post-2004 Expansion): Left bank expansion added 400 MW, increasing total capacity to 815 MW
• Recent Upgrades (2024): Unit 1 capacity boost from 100 MW to 115 MW adds 100 million kWh annually

Current Generation Capabilities

With its 17.4 billion m³ reservoir acting like a giant battery, Fengtan leverages 10.6 billion m³ of adjustable storage for optimized power generation. The station now operates at:

• Design Capacity: 2.583 billion kWh annually (post-2004 configuration)
• Practical Output: Approximately 2.9 billion kWh with modernized units

Engineering Innovations Driving Efficiency

The station's unique hollow gravity arch design (think of a Swiss cheese dam structure) allows simultaneous power generation and flood control. Its 488-meter curved crest and 112.5-meter height create hydraulic head pressure equivalent to a 38-story building - enough to spin Francis turbines at 150 RPM even during dry seasons.

Beyond the Numbers: System Impact

While raw generation figures impress, Fengtan's real value lies in:

• Peak shaving for Hunan's grid (covering 14.4% provincial hydro capacity)
• Flood prevention protecting 495 hectares farmland downstream
• Navigation improvements enabling 1,500-ton vessels through 150km waterways

Recent upgrades exemplify China's "green retrofitting" trend - boosting output without new infrastructure. The 2024 unit improvements alone added capacity comparable to a medium-sized plant, proving that in hydropower, sometimes the best innovations come from working smarter with existing assets.

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