Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station has played an important role in ensuring a stable power supply, facilitating flexible power system regulation, and providing?auxiliary market services in Hunan and Central China over the past three decades since its?completion. In recent years, with the rapid growth of new energy installed capacity and the accelerated pace of power market reform, the power system has seen increasing demands for?peak load regulation capacity.?In order to take?full advantages of its reservoir capacity and generator?unit?efficiency, and to create greater economic benefit and social value, Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station has put the capacity expansion of its No.1~5 generator?units on its agenda, carrying out a great deal of work in policy study, environmental protection assessment,?technical verification, and related aspects.

A?capacity expansion project review meeting was held on September 6, 2024. On October 14, the Hunan Development and Reform Commission officially approved the ?unit feasible capacity of the?No. 1 to No. 5 units of Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station from 240 megawatts (MW) to 250 MW. This indicates that the hydropower installed capacity of the station will?increase from 1,700 MW (5×240+2×250) to 1,750 MW (7×250). On November 20, Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station received the new electricity?business license, obtaining an official administrative authorization for its?unit capacity expansion.

Upon the completion of?capacity expansion, the No.?1~5 units of Wuqiangxi Hydropower Station?will?operate more efficiently.?Specifically, first, it?will further improve the utilization of water resources and increase the annual power generation capacity by about 50 MWh. Second, it will reduce wind and photovoltaic energy curtailment?of the grid, improving?the operation efficiency and economical efficiency?of the power system.?Third, it will better meet the demand for system regulation, contributing?to stable?grid operation and a reliable power supply. Fourth, it will boost?optimization and upgrading of the energy structure,?accelerating?realization of the energy conservation and emission reduction target of the whole society.?