Top 10 Solar PV–Hydro Hybrid System at Longyangxia, China

In June 2022, the Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system of Huanghe Company won the Guinness World Record title of the hydro-optical complementary power station with the largest installed capacity.

Pictures recently released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) show the tremendous changes since 2013 in the Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system project, the largest hydro-solar hybrid on-grid #photovoltaic power plant in the world.

The Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system is located in the Yellow River Company Industrial Park in Talatan, Gonghe County, Hainan Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is divided into 9 photovoltaic power generation production areas. The project covers an area of approximately 9.16 square kilometers, has a total installed capacity of 850MWp, a production and operation period of 25 years, and a project construction cost of approximately 6 billion yuan. It is reported that after completion, the project can meet the electricity needs of 150,000-200,000 households.

Calculated with an average annual power generation of approximately 1.494 billion kilowatt-hours, the Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system can save approximately 464,600 tons of standard coal, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1,226,600 tons, and reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by approximately 3,944.16 tons. (Source: "Huahe Hydropower Development Co., Ltd." website report on September 25, 2023)

The Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system adopts the "hydro-solar complementary" model, which combines photovoltaic power stations and hydropower stations into one power source. When the sun is strong, photovoltaics are used to generate electricity, and hydropower is out of service or generated less. When the weather changes or at night, hydropower generation is automatically adjusted through the power grid dispatching system to reduce the impact of weather changes on photovoltaic power generation, improve the quality of photovoltaic power generation, and obtain stable and reliable power. Starting from the power supply end, the problem of poor stability of photovoltaic power generation is solved.

A high-voltage line connects a large river and a desert, achieving a win-win situation of economic and ecological benefits on Tara Beach. This hydro-solar hybrid power station is fully prepared.

The Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system is equipped with four hydro-generator units with a single capacity of 320 MW, with a total installed capacity of 1,280 MW. The Longyangxia Hydro-solar Complementary Photovoltaic Power Station with an installed capacity of 850 MW serves as the "supernumerary unit" of the Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system. Through the rapid adjustment of the hydraulic turbine unit, the originally unstable sawtooth-shaped photovoltaic power supply has been adjusted to a balanced, high-quality, safe, and more The friendly, smooth and stable power supply reduces the spinning reserve capacity required by the power grid to absorb new energy, and improves the power grid's consumption and transmission capabilities.

At present, water-solar complementary technology is the first of its kind in the world, providing a new multi-energy complementary development model for the development of clean energy in China and the world.

The Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system is expected to generate 1.494 billion kilowatt-hours a year, which is equivalent to saving 493,000 tons of thermal power standard coal every year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.232 million tons, sulfur dioxide by about 4.191 million tons, and nitrogen oxides by 3.6487 million tons. It will make a positive contribution to China’s carbon emission reduction.

In addition, many companies have cooperated with local governments and the masses to build "#solarfarm" under photovoltaic panels and raise "photovoltaic sheep". "The green grass under the photovoltaic panels becomes sheep feed, and the sheep become the 'weeders' in the park, preventing weeds from growing too tall and affecting the photovoltaic panels' power generation. At the same time, the 'photovoltaic sheep' have also become a way to increase the income of local people. Important channel.

However, the title of "the world's largest photovoltaic power station" for the Longyangxia Hydro-hybrid system may soon be replaced. In Yanchi County, Ningxia, a solar power plant project with a planned installed capacity of 2GW is under construction in phases, and the first phase of 800MW has been completed. 

The next issue will introduce to you “Ningxia Yanchi 2GW Solar Power Plant”.