GCL breaks ground on 2.4 GW pumped storage plant in China

China’s GCL Group has officially launched the construction of a 2.4 GWh pumped hydro storage plant in in Jiande City, Zhejiang Province , billed as the largest single clean energy project invested and constructed by group and the largest pumped storage project in East China to date.

The EPC contract signing ceremony was held on September 8 and attended by representatives from Zhejiang Jiande GCL Pumped Storage Co., Ltd. (subsidiary of GCL Group and investment entity of the project), Huadong Engineering Corporation, PowerChina SOCOL Corporation, and officials from the Jiande Municipal Government.

Located in the Linchang Town of Jiande City, Zhejiang Province, the GCL Pumped Storage Power Station is at the power consumption center of Zhejiang and close to Shanghai. With a total investment of around CNY12.5 billion ($1.76 billion), the project is expected to commence power generation before 2030.

Once completed, the power station will feature six reversible water turbine generator units with power of 400 MW each. It is expected to generate an average annual electricity output of 2.52 TWh.

The Jiande GCL Pumped will mainly be used for peak shaving, valley filling, energy storage, frequency regulation, phase adjustment, and emergency backup for the entire East China power grid. In so doing, the system is expected to ensure safe and stable operation of the grid and promote the large-scale development and integration of renewable energy sources towards the achievement of the province’s “dual carbon” goals.

As of the first half of 2024, the installed capacity of clean energy in Zhejiang Province has reached 71.18 GW, accounting for 52% of the total installed power generation capacity, surpassing that of thermal power.