The $2.6 billion Fengning project, located in Hebei Province, has officially been completed after construction began in 2013. The station is equipped with 12 reversible hydroturbines, each with a capacity of 300 MW, including two with variable-speed technology. Fengning will generate 6.61 TWh of electricity annually while consuming 8.71 TWh to pump water, stabilizing power supply by offsetting fluctuations in wind and solar energy production.
The station features upper and lower reservoirs with capacities of 45.04 million and 71.56 million cubic meters, respectively. When fully charged, the upper reservoir can sustain full-capacity operation for 10.8 hours, storing up to 40 GWh of energy. This makes Fengning a crucial asset for balancing renewable energy production in northern China. Additionally, it houses the world’s largest underground power station, measuring 414 meters in length, and is supported by 190 tunnels spanning over 50 kilometers.
Fengning employs advanced variable-speed pump-turbine technology, enabling rapid response to grid fluctuations and flexible load adjustments during water pumping. The station is integrated with a flexible DC grid and supports the seamless incorporation of diverse energy sources, minimizing the impact of renewable energy variability and significantly enhancing the efficiency of wind and solar power utilization.
China leads the world in pumped-storage hydropower technology, which remains the most mature solution for long-term energy storage. The State Grid Corporation of China currently operates 40.56 GW of pumped-storage capacity, with an additional 53.48 GW under construction. Projects like Fengning play a critical role in stabilizing the energy grid and maximizing the use of clean energy across the nation.
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