State Grid Launches Projects on Pumped Storage, Power Transmission in Qinghai

State Grid held a mobilization meeting to start construction of the Qinghai Warang Pumped Storage Power Plant and transmission projects of Yushu, Guoluo, and Dingzikou on August 6. In line with its missions, State Grid accelerates the building of a power system based on renewables and works hard to help develop a modern Qinghai as envisioned by President Xi Jinping.

The meeting was attended by officials from State Grid, Qinghai Province, State Power Investment Corporation and CHN Energy Investment Group. At 11:00 a.m., Chen Gang, Secretary of the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee, Wu Xiaojun, Governor of the Qinghai Province, and Xin Baoan, Executive Chairman of State Grid, jointly commenced construction of the projects. When completed, those projects are expected to empower Qinghai’s high-quality socio-economic development with more green electricity.

Xin Baoan pointed out that the Warang plant will become the pumped hydro plant with the largest installed capacity in West China since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The projects of Yushu, Guoluo and Dingzikou are of great importance to improving the grid structure of Qinghai. The projects will enable the power grid to allocate resources more efficiently and ensure safe and reliable electricity supply. Since Qinghai has maintained rapid economic growth, the projects will promote Qinghai’s building of a new type power system, help coordinate power generation, grid, load and storage, improve the reliability of power supply, and better meet Qinghai’s electricity demand for economic and social development. The projects will expedite the accommodation of new energy and promote the clean energy industry. The maximum storage capacity of the Warang plant is expected to approach 20 GWh. The Dingzikou 750 kV power transmission and transformation project will build a new channel for sending clean energy from wind and solar power of lager bases in the desert, Gobi and wilderness. They will help Qinghai translate its strength in clean energy to industrial and economic growth. The projects will facilitate decarbonization and pollution reduction and help Qinghai achieve ecological progress.

The Warang plant can save 1.82 million tons of standard coal and cut CO2 emissions by 4.55 million tons annually. Both Yushu and Guoluo projects will enable local prefectures to access more electricity from the Qinghai main grid, boost local electrification, and meet the need for clean heating in the Sanjiangyuan area. The projects will boost stable growth, create job opportunities, and promote the high-quality development of ethnic areas. The cumulative investment of the projects exceeds RMB 21.5 billion, which can boost GDP growth by about RMB 60 billion and provide more than 15,000 jobs. The projects will spur socio-economic growth in the snow-covered plateau, improve people’s livelihoods in the Tibetan areas, and contribute to the common prosperity of all ethnic groups. State Grid will pool resources,, work with partners for safe, high-quality and efficient project construction, and endeavor to build premium projects that serve as role models.

Wu Xiaojun appreciated the efforts State Grid has made in recent years to strengthen the power infrastructure in Qinghai. Such efforts enabled the large power grid to cover all counties and laid a solid foundation for Qinghai to embark on a new journey to modernization. He said that State Grid has demonstrated the spirit of responsibility, innovation, excellence and dedication. The projects launched this time are massive projects promoted by Qinghai Province and State Grid, and also good projects looked forward to by the local people. When online, the projects are expected to improve Qinghai’s energy mix, better ensure power supply, and enable the people on the plateau to share the outcomes of green development. They are of great significance to the building of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. They will substantially promote the coordinated development of the entire industrial chain in the power sector of the province. The Qinghai government fully supports the projects’ construction and expects their early completion and operation.

The meeting was held online and attended by government officials at various levels in Qinghai, and representatives of State Grid departments and subsidiaries.