Anhui's 'super power bank' generates economic, environmental returns

Deep in the mountains of southern Anhui Province in east China lies a "super power bank."

Located in Fuling town in Jixi county, the facility relies on neither coal nor wind or solar energy. Instead, it helps stabilize the regional power grid by reducing strain during peak demand periods and supplying electricity during times of low demand. This ensures reliable power for east China, including Anhui and Jiangsu provinces and Shanghai.

Aerial photo shows the Jixi pumped storage hydropower plant in Fuling town, Jixi county, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo/Zhang Zhaoxin)

This "super power bank" is a pumped storage hydropower plant, consisting of an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir, a water conveyance system and an underground powerhouse.

"The plant operates on a simple principle: During nighttime off-peak hours, it uses surplus electricity from the grid to drive turbines that pump water from the lower reservoir uphill to the upper reservoir for storage," said Jiang Hongwei, director of the Party building department at State Grid Xinyuan Anhui Jixi Pumped Storage Co., Ltd. "When daytime peak demand arrives, water is released back down to drive the turbines and generate electricity, converting potential energy into electrical power."

The site was chosen for its exceptional natural conditions. Jixi county, one of China's first state-level model counties for ecological progress, features rolling mountains and interlaced waterways, ideal for constructing pumped storage hydropower plants.

According to Jiang, construction of the Jixi pumped storage hydropower plant began in December 2014, with all units entering operation by February 2021. The plant has a total installed capacity of 1.8 million kilowatts, making it the largest pumped storage hydropower facility in Anhui Province.

Photo shows the Jixi pumped storage hydropower plant in Fuling town, Jixi county, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

As of 2024, the plant had generated a cumulative 2.479 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and responded to 106 emergency grid demands with a 100 percent startup success rate. The plant helps stabilize eastern China's power grid during summer demand surges by storing excess energy and releasing it during peak hours, while supporting clean energy integration.

In 2024, the facility achieved an output value of 1.684 billion yuan ($236.69 million) and contributed 113 million yuan in taxes, significantly boosting local employment and infrastructure development.

Equally important are its environmental benefits. The plant reduces annual coal consumption by approximately 216,000 tonnes and cuts emissions of 475,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, about 1,079 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and about 2,879 tonnes of sulfur dioxide. Recognized as a national model project for water and soil conservation, it vividly illustrates the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

Aerial photo shows the upper reservoir of the Jixi pumped storage hydropower plant in Fuling town, Jixi county, east China's Anhui Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Ximeng)

Jixi county is now accelerating new pumped storage hydropower projects. The Jixi Jiapeng pumped storage hydropower plant, located in Jingzhou and Jiapeng townships, received approval in October 2024. With an installed capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts and a total investment of around 8.4 billion yuan, all its generating units are expected to be operational by 2030.

In addition, the Shangzhuang pumped storage hydropower plant has entered the site selection and planning phase, with a proposed installed capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts.

According to the National Energy Administration, China's total installed pumped storage hydropower capacity reached 62.365 million kilowatts by the end of August, surpassing the 62 million-kilowatt target set in the 14th Five-Year Plan ahead of schedule.