Full Episode - The story of hydropower in China: benefits, challenges, risks

World
Europe

For decades, China prioritized economic development far above environmental protection, but when severe pollution began to elicit public complaint, priorities began to change.

There was no choice. In 2005, then the Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province, Xi Jinping stated famously, “green mountains and clear water are equal to mountains of gold and silver” — a grand strategy that, today, President Xi Jinping has set for the entire country.

By the end of 2017, China had achieved its 2020 carbon emission target three years ahead of schedule. China had cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 46 percent from the 2005 level.

China's non-fossil energy accounts for about 14% of primary energy consumption, with a goal of 15% in 2020. In China, a major source of alternative energy is hydropower.

According to the National Energy Administration, at the end of 2018, China's hydropower installed capacity was about 350 million kilowatts, and its annual power generation was about 1.2 trillion kilowatt hours, both ranking first in the world.

What’s the story of hydropower in China? What are its benefits, challenges, risks?

The famous Gezhouba Hydropower station in Yichang, Hubei Province. VCG/·Photo

Hydropower is clean, low carbon and efficient, exemplifying President Xi’s call for “green mountains and clear waters”.

Hydropower accounts for about 35% of China’s domestic natural energy resource, second only to coal, and accounts for more than 60% of China’s clean renewable energy.

That’s why hydropower is so important for China. Yet there are problems.

One major problem is hydropower’s ecological side effects: for example, river dams affect the migration of fish. That’s why “Green Small Hydropower” is being developed, to find balance between river conservation and renewable energy.

Another problem is that, in China, hydropower resources are highest in regions where energy needs are lowest, a mismatch, but part of the solution is to use the excess hydropower to facilitate infrastructure development, which is much needed in these less developed regions.

What about new hydropower sources, such as tidal and ocean wave power? How about information technologies, including AI, to enhance efficiency, provide river basin safety management, and simulate environmental issues?

Since China’s hydropower leads the world, China has an opportunity — indeed an obligation — to help other developing countries.

In the Belt and Road initiative, hydropower exemplifies both infrastructure development and clean, sustainable power. An early Belt and Road project is the Karot Hydropower run-of-river plant in Pakistan.

The project is structured as “build-own-operate-transfer“— after a 30-year period of Chinese-led operations, the plant will be transferred to Pakistan without compensation. There is no perfect alternative energy source; ideal is an optimum mix of solar, hydro, nuclear, wind, biomass. Appreciating alternative energy is to be Closer To China.