The construction of the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River hydropower project started on July 19, 2025 in Linzhi City, Tibet, with a total investment of about 1.2 trillion yuan. This project is not only a core project of China’s “14th Five-Year Plan” energy strategy, but also a great feat of world hydropower.
Ⅰ. Project Overview and Technical Highlights
1. Core Parameters
Investment Scale: Total investment is about **1.2 trillion yuan, 5-6 times that of the Three Gorges Project, and the largest single project in the history of global hydropower.
Installed Capacity: 60 million to 81 million kilowatts (equivalent to 3 Three Gorges Power Stations), annual power generation of 300 billion kilowatt-hours, which can meet the annual electricity demand of 300 million people.
Development Method: Adopting the “straightening and tunnel water diversion” mode, using the 2,230-meter natural drop within 50 kilometers of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the water energy utilization rate reaches more than 85%.
2. Technological breakthroughs
Plateau construction: At an altitude of 3,000-4,000 meters, it is necessary to cope with challenges such as hypoxia (oxygen content is only 60% of that in the plains) and a 9-degree strong earthquake zone. Special equipment such as antifreeze concrete and plateau shield machines are used.
Intelligent system: Digital twin technology is introduced to monitor geological risks (such as rock bursts and high ground temperatures) in real time. The 500-megawatt impulse turbine is the first in the world.
Ecological design: 30% of natural rivers are reserved for fish migration, a 10 billion yuan ecological fund is established to restore vegetation, and stratified water intake is used to reduce ecological disturbance.
Ⅱ. Strategic value and multi-dimensional significance
1. Energy transformation and carbon neutrality
The annual power generation can replace 90 million tons of standard coal, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 300 million tons, and directly support China’s carbon neutrality goal by 2060.
The electricity is transmitted to Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and the Yangtze River Delta through ±800 kV UHV, accounting for 3.3% of the national power generation, alleviating energy pressure in the east.
2. Regional economic revitalization
It will increase Tibet’s annual fiscal revenue by more than 20 billion yuan (accounting for 2/3 of Tibet’s fiscal revenue in 2024), and create 200,000 jobs.
It will end the plight of Medog as a “plateau island”, build supporting roads, railways and power grids, and promote southeastern Tibet to become a clean energy economic corridor.
3. Geopolitical game and international cooperation
Responding to India’s concerns: Scientific data show that the outflow of the Yarlung Zangbo River accounts for only 19% of the total amount of the Brahmaputra River. The project only generates electricity and does not consume water. It promises to guarantee 10% of the ecological flow downstream and share hydrological data.
Regional coordination: Potentially transmit electricity to Myanmar and Bangladesh to reduce their electricity costs; intelligent regulation can alleviate 40% of flood losses in Assam, India.
Ⅲ. International response and future prospects
India’s attitude: From initial opposition to pragmatic cooperation, it will accelerate the construction of competitive dams in southern Tibet (such as the Dibang Valley project) in 2025, but scientific data weakens the legitimacy of its protest.
Global benchmark significance: The project adopts the “green development + cross-border coordination” model to provide a “Chinese solution” for cross-border water resources management after the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.
Long-term extended value: Accumulate technical experience for “Tibetan water into Xinjiang” (such as the Hongqi River plan) and promote the Asian energy interconnection network.
Summary: Multiple missions of the century project
The Yarlung Zangbo River hydropower project not only reshapes China’s energy landscape, but also leverages Tibet’s modernization with trillion-level investment, conquers geological limits with technical strength, and balances development and protection with the concept of ecological priority. Its successful implementation will mark China’s move from a “hydropower power” to a “hydropower power” and set a new paradigm for global super projects.
Data updated to July 20, 2025, based on authoritative reports from CCTV News, Xinhuanet, etc.
Post time: Jul-21-2025
