• Constructions at Wudongde are now under full stream
• Commissioning of the hydropower plant is expected in 2020
• China is world market leader for new hydro development

Shanghai, China: Construction activities at Wudongde hydropower station, the fourth largest of its kind in China, are now fully under way. Voith is supporting the Wudongde project with the supply of six hydroelectric turbine generator units and auxiliary parts with a total installed capacity of 5,100 megawatts. The contract has a value of around €365 million. Following Three Gorges, Xiluodu and Baihetan the project marks yet another breakthrough for Voith in supporting the development of large renewable energy projects in China. The turbine generator units for Wudongde will, in terms of power output, be amongst the largest worldwide and the largest Voith has supplied in its history.

Wudongde is located in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River, the region of Huidong County, Sichuan Province and Luquan County, Yunnan Province. With its 12 units of 850 megawatts Francis power generating machines, Wudongde will have a total installed capacity of 10,200 megawatts, nearly half of that of Three Gorges.

The Chinese government approved the construction in December 2015 with the commissioning of the Wudongde project planned to be in 2020. When finished, the Wudongde hydropower plant will have an estimated annual generating capacity of 38.9 billion KWh, and will contribute to savings of 12.2 million tons of standard coal and 30.5 million tons of CO₂ emissions each year.

With multiple functions of power generation, flood control, navigation and sediment retention, the project will play a significant role in the "West-East Power Transmission", a program aimed to transmit affordable, clean power from Western China to the economically dynamic Guangdong province and other coastal areas and promote sustainable economic growth for China.

The successful order placement was the result of Voith’s innovative technology and well-established track record of sound performance in China. “Voith is very proud to be a part of this exciting and important hydro-power project and continues to contribute to China’s renewable energy development,” said Uwe Wehnhardt, President and CEO of Voith Hydro.

Voith has supplied more than 240 power units to 80 Chinese hydropower stations. Voith Hydro Shanghai was established in 1994 as part of Voith Hydro’s firm desire to take deep roots in China as a local company. It has become a major force behind China’s hydropower development program through its participation in key projects including Three Gorges, Xiluodu, Longtan, Xiaowan, Laxiwa, Liyuan, Dagangshan, Nuozhadu, Jinping II and Hongping.

With 330 GW of installed hydropower capacity, China is by far the leading player in the world’s market for both new hydro development as well as in total installed capacity. In 2014 alone, the country added 21.85 GW.

Hydropower is the largest, oldest and also most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development – both in industrial countries and in emerging markets. At the same time, hydropower significantly contributes to climate-protecting energy generation. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology since the early beginning, and continuously develops it further.

Voith sets standards in the markets for energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials, transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 20,000 people, generates €4.3 billion in sales, operates in over 60 countries around the world and is one of the biggest family owned companies in Europe.*
* Excluding the discontinued Group Division Voith Industrial Services; previous-year figures adjusted.