China’s First Fully Domestic-Controlled Hydro-Solar Complementary Project Put into Operation in Yunnan

Recently, Huaneng Xiaowan Hydro-Solar Complementary Project, China’s first hydro-solar complementary project with a fully domestic control system, has been officially put into operation in Yunnan Province. This landmark project marks a major breakthrough in China’s independent controllability of core equipment for large-scale clean energy bases, demonstrating the country’s continuous progress in the clean energy sector.

China News Service reports that the project is constructed and operated by China Huaneng, with a total installed capacity of 5.43 million kilowatts, including 4.2 million kilowatts of hydropower and over 1.23 million kilowatts of photovoltaic power. Upon full-capacity operation, the project is expected to generate 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which can meet the annual electricity demand of about 7 million households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 16 million tons each year.

This project will effectively promote the construction of the beautiful Lancang River Power Corridor and provide a reliable clean energy guarantee for the high-quality development of the economy and society. As a key power source for China’s "West-to-East Power Transmission" project, it plays a crucial role in optimizing the national energy structure and advancing the green transition.

The project innovatively applies the "intelligent hydro-solar coordination" control technology. It centralizes green electricity generated by 16 photovoltaic power stations in the region through a collection station, which is then transmitted together with the electricity generated by Huaneng Xiaowan Hydropower Station in the base. By virtue of the hydropower station’s large-capacity energy storage capacity and second-level response adjustment capability, it achieves "hydro-solar coordination and integrated storage and transmission".

CCTV News notes that this model effectively solves the volatility problem caused by large-scale photovoltaic grid connection, provides important guarantee for the consumption of large-scale photovoltaic power, and ensures the safe and stable supply of electricity. The project has overcome core technologies such as hydro-solar coordinated stability control.

On the basis of 100% independent controllability of the entire hydropower station control system, it has realized the localization of core equipment such as photovoltaic power station monitoring, protection devices and static synchronous compensators, laying a solid foundation for the independent development of China’s clean energy equipment industry.

Looking ahead, the Huaneng Xiaowan Hydro-Solar Complementary Project will continue to play its role in clean energy supply, further optimizing the local energy structure and driving the development of the clean energy industry in the Lancang River Basin. China will also take this project as an example to promote the widespread application of hydro-solar complementary technology, accelerate the construction of large-scale clean energy bases, and make greater contributions to global energy conservation and emission reduction and green development.