Far beneath the peaks of Changlongshan mountain in Zhejiang province, in the east of the Chinese mainland, a monumental project quietly reshapes our energy future. Known as the 'water battery', this pumped-storage hydropower station is designed to power 2 million homes and slash 420,000 tons of carbon emissions every year — the equivalent of removing nearly 90,000 cars from the road.
At its core, pumped-storage hydropower works like a giant rechargeable battery. When energy demand is low, excess electricity pumps water uphill into a reservoir. At peak times, the water rushes back down through turbines, generating clean power on demand. This flexibility is crucial for integrating intermittent renewables like wind and solar into modern grids.
The Changlongshan facility boasts a capacity of over 3 gigawatt-hours of storage, stabilizing the regional network and reducing reliance on fossil-fuel peaker plants. By smoothing out supply fluctuations, this 'green power bank' model supports a cleaner, more resilient energy system across the Chinese mainland.
Erik Solheim, chairman of the Europe-Asia Center and former UN under-secretary-general, traveled from Europe to witness the station in action. He described the site as a 'game-changer' for the global clean-energy transition, noting its potential to inspire similar projects from Brazil to South Africa and beyond.
As cities and industries race to meet ambitious climate goals, pumped-storage hydropower like Changlongshan's offers a proven, scalable solution. For young innovators, travelers and changemakers, it’s a reminder that harnessing nature’s power can unlock a sustainable tomorrow.
Reference(s):
Changlongshan "water battery": Storing energy, sustaining nature
cgtn.com
