China powers ahead with world's tallest dam construction milestone

The Shuangjiangkou hydropower project in southwestern China's Sichuan Province has achieved a significant operational milestone with the activation of its third generating unit, boosting the facility's total power output to 1.5 gigawatts. The facility is notable for being constructed below what will become the world's tallest dam upon completion of the main structure.

The phased activation of generating units allows China to begin harvesting power from the installation even as construction crews work on completing the primary dam structure above. This approach reflects the project's ambitious engineering scope, combining hydroelectric generation with the structural challenges of building the world's highest dam.

The Shuangjiangkou station represents part of China's broader effort to expand hydropower capacity in its western regions. The facility demonstrates how modern large-scale dam projects can be configured to generate revenue during construction phases, offsetting some development costs while the engineering work proceeds.

The project's completion will add substantial capacity to China's renewable energy portfolio. Once fully operational, the installation will contribute to the country's efforts to transition toward cleaner power generation and manage water resources across the Yangtze River basin in southwestern China.