Engineering Everest: China’s 100-Storey-Tall Dam Begins Water Storage, Setting Stage for Global Records

China's giant Shuangjiangkou dam project, on course to stand as the planet's tallest, has arrived at a crucial milestone with the first storage of water on May 1. The engineering marvel stands at 315 meters (1,033 feet) tall along the Dadu River in China's Sichuan province, and is now slowly inching towards complete operating status after working on it for almost a decade.

 

Breakneck Scale

The Shuangjiangkou dam is 10 meters higher than the current record holder, Sichuan's Jinping-I dam, and rises as high as a 100-storey building. Its reservoir has a capacity of 110 million cubic meters of water-nearly eight times the size of Hangzhou's West Lake, making it a giant in the world of hydropower projects.

 

Green Energy Powerhouse

When in operation, the dam will produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity per year, sufficient to supply more than three million households. Its production will be more than 7 billion kWh per annum, greatly contributing to China's renewable energy drive by displacing almost 3 million tonnes of coal and reducing carbon emissions by over 7 million tonnes per year.

 

Dual Purpose:

In addition to power production, the dam will also serve a key function in flood control for the region and strengthen water security for millions of people.

 

Engineering Achievements:

The project, constructed at an elevation of more than 2,400 meters, has braved stiff challenges such as seismic threats and intricate geology. Engineers have used advanced robotics, 5G-integrated systems, and drones to streamline construction and track environmental effects in real time.

 

Future Plans:

The inaugural power generation unit is expected to come on line by the end of 2025, a final phase en route to the full commissioning.

 

China's Shuangjiangkou dam isn't only record-breaking—it's a symbol of the nation's push for green infrastructure and energy security.

 

Sources: South China Morning Post, Business Standard, NetDania