On March 1, the Huaneng Jinshang Lawa Hydropower Station—the world's tallest concrete-faced rockfill dam power station—reached a new construction milestone with the successful installation of the runner for its first (Unit 4) turbine-generator set. This marks the acceleration of the final assembly phase for the first unit and lays the foundation for the initial units to be ready for commercial operation by year-end.

The first unit's runner at the Lawa Hydropower Station has been successfully installed

The Lawa Hydropower Station is located on the main stream of the Jinsha River at the border between Batang County in Sichuan Province and Markam County in Xizang Autonomous Region. It is a key component of the upper Jinsha River clean energy base, a national priority project under China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). The station will house four Francis-type turbine-generator units, each with a capacity of 500 megawatts, for a total installed capacity of 2,000 megawatts.

The runner, regarded as the 'heart' of the hydro turbine-generator unit, is the core component that converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy. Its installation precision directly affects the operational stability and power generation efficiency of the unit. The component installed this time is an integrated assembly comprising the lifting fixture, runner, and turbine shaft, with a maximum outer diameter of 6.7 meters, a total height of 8.87 meters, and a combined weight of 262.1 metric tons—earning it the nickname 'giant'.

Upon full commissioning, the power station will generate approximately 9 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, equivalent to saving about 2.77 million metric tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 7.41 million metric tons. This project holds significant importance for optimizing the regional energy mix, advancing green and low-carbon development, and promoting local socio-economic growth.

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