Xiluodu Dam, Arch dam and hydroelectric power station in Baitieba Township, China
This facility spans 700 meters across the Jinsha River between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, ranking among the largest installations of its type in China. The curved concrete structure houses 18 turbine generators positioned within the river valley to produce electricity.
Construction began in December 2005, with the concrete placement starting in 2008. The first generator went online in July 2013, and the entire facility was completed in June 2014.
The development of this facility required the relocation of 180,000 residents, reshaping local communities and their connection to the Jinsha River region.
The facility sits in a mountainous river region that continues to be shaped by infrastructure work. The surroundings are remote, and visitor facilities are limited.
One of the control gates weighs 1,600 tons, making it among the heaviest such structures worldwide. The facility replaces around 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year that would otherwise come from fossil fuel power generation.
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