Liyuan Dam and Liyuan Hydropower Station in Lijiang

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Liyuan Hydropower Station (梨园水电站) is located on the Jinsha River (金沙江) between Yulong County (玉龙县) in Lijiang City (丽江市), and Shangri-La County (香格里拉县) in Diqing Prefecture (迪庆州), Yunnan Province (云南省). As part of the Jinsha River’s mid-stream development, it is the third of the “One Reservoir, Eight-Level” (一库八级) hydropower cascade. The dam plays a crucial role in the national “West-to-East Power Transmission” (西电东送) program, providing both electricity and flood control, while promoting tourism and ecological benefits.

Overview of Liyuan Hydropower Station

Liyuan Hydropower Station has an installed capacity of 2400 MW, with an annual power generation of over 10.7 billion kWh. The maximum height of the dam is 155 meters, and the total reservoir capacity is 805 million cubic meters. The station’s complex includes a concrete face rockfill dam, spillway, flood discharge tunnel, and a diversion power system.

Construction of the station began in August 2007, with the diversion tunnel starting in May 2008. After several phases of work, the project was completed in August 2016. In 2023, the hydropower station passed its final inspection, marking it as the first large-scale hydropower project in Yunnan Province (云南省) to complete this process.

Since its launch, Liyuan Hydropower Station has generated over 74.2 billion kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by 61.4 million tons. In recognition of its achievements, the project won the 2022 National Quality Engineering Award and the 2023 Zhan Tianyou Civil Engineering Award (詹天佑奖) in China.

Key Features

• Location: The station is located on the Jinsha River, bordering Yulong County (玉龙县), Lijiang City (丽江市), and Shangri-La County (香格里拉县), Diqing Prefecture (迪庆州).

• Installed Capacity: 2400 MW (4×600 MW).

• Maximum Dam Height: 155 meters.

• Total Reservoir Capacity: 805 million cubic meters.

• Normal Reservoir Water Level: 1618 meters.

• Commercial Operation Date: August 1, 2016.

Construction and Engineering

The construction of Liyuan Hydropower Station was an enormous task that required overcoming numerous engineering challenges. These included addressing issues related to the use of large-scale ice-water accumulation near the dam and optimizing the panel-joint waterstop structure. The station features a 155-meter-high dam built using a single-fill-to-the-top method, a first for such a high dam.

The project includes multiple large-scale facilities, such as a concrete-faced rockfill dam, a spillway, a flood discharge tunnel, and hydropower generation systems on both the left and right banks of the river.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The main objective of Liyuan Hydropower Station is to generate electricity, but it also contributes to flood control, water supply, and tourism development in the region. The hydropower station’s combined operations with the Longpan Reservoir (龙盘水库) result in an annual electricity generation of 10.7 billion kWh, with a guarantee output of 1103 MW.

The station plays an important role in supplying power to Lijiang City (丽江市) and Diqing Prefecture (迪庆州), supporting agricultural irrigation and promoting the local economy. The infrastructure also enables local tourism development, offering a variety of recreational activities along the reservoir.

Reservoir and Land Use

When the reservoir is filled to its normal water level of 1618 meters, its backwater length reaches 58 km. The submerged area impacts both Yulong County (玉龙县) and Shangri-La County (香格里拉县), covering 14.73 square kilometers in total, with 11.12 square kilometers of land and 3.61 square kilometers of water area. The project also affects several villages, with a total of 34 people living in the submerged area, all of whom are agricultural residents.

In total, the land acquisition for the project covers 5.89 square kilometers, located in Fengke Township (奉科乡) in Yulong County and Sanba Township (三坝乡) in Shangri-La County.

Project Development and Achievements

The Liyuan Hydropower Station began its second turbine test in July 2015, completing three days of trial operation and successfully connecting to the grid. By the end of 2015, the third and fourth turbines were installed and began commercial operations. By July 2023, the hydropower station passed the final acceptance review, completing its full construction phase.

Recognition and Honors

The Liyuan Hydropower Station has received numerous accolades for its exceptional engineering quality:

• 2022-2023 National Quality Engineering Award (2022年国家优质工程奖).

• 2023 Zhan Tianyou Civil Engineering Award (詹天佑奖).

The station’s completion is a significant milestone in Yunnan Province’s ongoing development of sustainable energy projects, contributing greatly to the “West-to-East Power Transmission” (西电东送) initiative.

Visitor Information

Liyuan Hydropower Station is a key landmark in the Jinsha River (金沙江) region, offering an exceptional engineering feat and rich natural beauty. Visitors can explore the surrounding area, learn about the environmental and technological innovations behind the project, and enjoy the scenic views around the reservoir.