Name: Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station
Address: CN

Overview

The Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station is an operational pumped-storage hydroelectric facility located in Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, China. Situated approximately 54 km northeast of the city of Dandong, the plant serves as a critical component of the regional energy infrastructure, functioning primarily as a peaking power plant to stabilize grid demand. The facility has a total installed capacity of 1200 MW and was officially commissioned in 2012, following a construction period that spanned from August 2006 to September 2012.

The power station operates on the principle of reversible hydroelectric generation, utilizing the potential energy difference between two distinct reservoirs. The system relies on the Pushihe River, a tributary of the larger Yalu River, which forms the basis for the lower reservoir. This lower reservoir was created by the construction of the Pushihe Lower Dam. Positioned in a valley above the eastern side of the lower reservoir is the Pushihe Upper Reservoir. This vertical separation allows for efficient energy storage and retrieval cycles.

During periods of low energy demand, typically occurring at night, electricity is used to pump water from the Pushihe Lower Reservoir up to the Pushihe Upper Reservoir. This process converts electrical energy into gravitational potential energy. When energy demand peaks, the stored water is released back down to the lower reservoir. The pump turbines reverse their mode of operation, functioning as generators to produce electricity as the water flows downward. This cyclical process enables the plant to respond rapidly to fluctuations in grid load, providing essential flexibility to the power system. The facility continues to operate using this method, shifting water between the upper and lower reservoirs to meet varying energy requirements.

How does the Pushihe Pumped Storage System Work?

The Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station functions as a large-scale energy storage facility, utilizing the gravitational potential energy of water to balance electrical supply and demand. The system relies on two distinct reservoirs: an upper reservoir situated in a valley on the east side, and a lower reservoir formed by the Pushihe Lower Dam on the Pushihe River, which is a tributary of the Yalu River. The operational cycle is driven by the fluctuating energy needs of the connected grid, allowing the plant to act as a peaking power plant.

Energy Storage and Pumping Cycle

During periods of low energy demand, typically at night when base-load generation exceeds immediate consumption, electricity is drawn from the grid to power the station's pump-turbines. In this phase, water is actively pumped from the Pushihe Lower Reservoir up to the Pushihe Upper Reservoir. The water is held in the upper valley, ready for rapid deployment when the grid requires additional power.

Power Generation and Turbine Reversal

As the water flows downward, it drives the same pump-turbines that were used for pumping, but in reverse mode. In this generation phase, the turbines function as generators, converting the kinetic energy of the falling water back into electricity. This rapid response capability allows the Pushihe station to inject power into the grid quickly, stabilizing frequency and voltage during high-consumption intervals. The continuous cycling between pumping and generating enables the plant to optimize the use of the water resource between the two reservoirs.

Infrastructure and Reservoir Specifications

The Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station relies on a dual-reservoir system designed to optimize energy storage and generation efficiency. The infrastructure is situated in Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, utilizing the natural topography to shift water between an upper and lower reservoir. This operational model allows the facility to function as a peaking power plant, pumping water during periods of low demand and releasing it to generate electricity during peak hours.

Lower Reservoir and Dam Structure

The lower reservoir is formed by the Pushihe Lower Dam, constructed on the Pushihe River. This river is a tributary of the Yalu River, providing a consistent water source for the hydroelectric cycle. The dam structure is critical for maintaining the necessary water volume for the lower basin, ensuring that sufficient water is available for pumping to the upper reservoir during off-peak hours. The location of the lower reservoir is integral to the plant’s overall hydraulic efficiency, situated at the base of the valley system.

Upper Reservoir Configuration

This elevation difference is essential for the potential energy conversion process. During low energy demand periods, such as at night, water is pumped from the lower reservoir up to this upper basin. The pump turbines reverse mode to serve as generators, producing electricity as the water descends. The spatial arrangement of the upper reservoir on the eastern side of the lower basin optimizes the pipeline routing and minimizes head loss.

Infrastructure Specifications

Component	Specification
Location	Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, China
Distance from Dandong	54 km northeast
Lower Reservoir Source	Pushihe River (tributary of the Yalu River)
Upper Reservoir Location	Valley above the east side of the lower reservoir
Operational Mechanism	Pumping water to upper reservoir during low demand; releasing to generate during high demand
Plant Type	Peaking power plant
Note: Detailed dam heights, lengths, and specific water capacity volumes are not explicitly provided in the primary grounding source. The infrastructure is defined by its functional reservoir arrangement and river tributary location.

The construction of these reservoirs and the connecting infrastructure was completed between August 2006 and September 2012. The design prioritizes the efficient transfer of water between the two basins, leveraging the natural valley geography of the Kuandian region. The absence of specific dam height or volume metrics in the primary source highlights the functional description of the system as the key technical feature, focusing on the hydraulic cycle rather than static structural dimensions.

Construction History and Timeline

The construction of the Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station spanned a period of six years, commencing in August 2006 and concluding in September 2012. The project was situated in Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, approximately 54 km northeast of Dandong. The engineering effort focused on the development of two distinct reservoir systems and the interconnecting infrastructure required for pumped-storage operations.

Lower Reservoir and Dam Construction

A critical component of the construction phase was the creation of the lower reservoir. This was achieved through the building of the Pushihe Lower Dam on the Pushihe River. The Pushihe River is a tributary of the Yalu River, providing the necessary water source for the station's operations. The dam construction formed the baseline storage capacity required for the cyclic pumping process.

Upper Reservoir Development

Simultaneously, engineers developed the Pushihe Upper Reservoir. This reservoir is located in a valley situated above the east side of the lower reservoir. The topographical positioning was essential for the gravity-fed generation cycle. The construction involved modifying the valley terrain to create a sufficient volume for water storage during low-demand periods.

Project Completion and Commissioning

The entire construction timeline, from the initial groundbreaking in August 2006 to the final completion in September 2012, established the station as a peaking power plant. Upon commissioning in 2012, the facility became operational with a capacity of 1200 MW. During high-demand periods, the water is released back down, reversing the mode of the pump turbines to serve as generators and produce electricity. This process is repeated as necessary to optimize energy output.

Why it matters

The Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station serves as a critical infrastructure asset for the regional energy grid in Liaoning Province, China. As a 1200 MW facility, it provides essential grid stability and flexibility, functioning primarily as a peaking power plant. This operational mode allows the station to balance supply and demand fluctuations, which is increasingly vital for integrating variable energy sources and managing load variations across the northeastern Chinese grid. The plant’s ability to rapidly adjust output makes it a key component in maintaining frequency and voltage stability in the region.

Operational Mechanics and Grid Role

The station operates by shifting water between an upper and lower reservoir to generate electricity, a process that defines its value as a peaking power plant. At this stage, the pump turbines that pumped the water up reverse mode and serve as generators to produce electricity. This reversible process is repeated as necessary, allowing the plant to store excess energy during off-peak hours and dispatch it during peak hours, thereby optimizing the efficiency of the broader power system.

Engineering Features and Hydraulic Head

The engineering design of the Pushihe station leverages significant topographical advantages to maximize energy storage and generation efficiency. The lower reservoir was formed with the creation of the Pushihe Lower Dam on the Pushihe River, a tributary of the Yalu River. This vertical separation creates a substantial hydraulic head, reported as 326 m, which is a critical parameter for the plant’s power output. A high hydraulic head allows for greater energy density per unit of water, enabling the 1200 MW capacity to be achieved with relatively compact turbine units. The construction of this infrastructure, completed between August 2006 and September 2012, reflects a strategic investment in hydroelectric flexibility in Kuandian County, located 54 km northeast of Dandong. The integration of the Pushihe River and the Yalu River tributary system into this closed-loop pumped storage system demonstrates effective use of local geography to support regional energy security.

Geographic and Hydrologic Context

The facility is located approximately 54 km (34 mi) northeast of the city of Dandong, placing it in a relatively remote, mountainous region characteristic of the Liaodong Peninsula's northern edge. This geographic positioning is critical to the station’s operational efficiency, as pumped-storage hydroelectricity relies heavily on the topographic elevation difference between the upper and lower reservoirs. The site was selected to leverage the natural valley systems of the area, minimizing the need for extensive civil engineering works while maximizing the potential head for power generation.

River System and Tributary Relationship

The hydrologic foundation of the power station is the Pushihe River, which serves as the primary water source for the lower reservoir. The Pushihe River is identified as a tributary of the Yalu River, a major international waterway that forms part of the border between China and North Korea. The construction of the Pushihe Lower Dam on the Pushihe River created the lower reservoir, effectively impounding the river’s flow to establish the baseline water level for the pumped-storage cycle. This dam structure is integral to the station’s ability to regulate water volume and maintain the necessary hydraulic pressure for turbine operation.

The relationship between the Pushihe River and the larger Yalu River system influences the hydrologic stability of the lower reservoir. As a tributary, the Pushihe River contributes to the broader watershed dynamics of the region, though the pumped-storage operation primarily functions as a closed-loop system where water is cycled between the two reservoirs. The lower reservoir’s water levels are managed to accommodate both the inflow from the Pushihe River and the outflow from the upper reservoir during generation phases. This integration with the local river network ensures that the station can maintain operational flexibility, adjusting to seasonal variations in water availability and energy demand.

Reservoir Topography and Configuration

This spatial arrangement is typical of pumped-storage facilities, where the upper reservoir is situated at a higher elevation to maximize the gravitational potential energy of the stored water. The valley topography provides a natural containment structure for the upper reservoir, reducing the need for extensive dam construction on the upper level. The elevation difference between the two reservoirs is a key factor in determining the power output and efficiency of the station, as it dictates the head pressure available to drive the pump-turbines during generation.

The geographic layout of the station, with the upper reservoir to the east and above the lower reservoir, allows for an efficient water transfer system. During periods of low energy demand, water is pumped from the lower reservoir up to the upper reservoir, utilizing excess electricity from the grid. This cyclical process is facilitated by the natural topography of the Kuandian County landscape, which provides the necessary elevation change and valley structures to support the station’s operational requirements.

Technical Parameters and Operational Data

The Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station is a hydroelectric facility with an installed capacity of 1200 MW, operating as a peaking power plant in Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, China. The station became operational in 2012, following a construction period that began in August 2006 and concluded in September 2012. Located 54 km northeast of Dandong, the plant utilizes the elevation difference between two reservoirs to store and generate electrical energy.

Hydraulic Infrastructure and Reservoirs

The power station’s operation depends on the transfer of water between an upper and a lower reservoir. This geographic arrangement allows for the gravitational potential energy required for power generation.

Operational Mechanics

The plant functions by shifting water between the two reservoirs based on energy demand. This cycle is repeated as necessary to meet grid requirements.

Parameter	Value / Description
Installed Capacity	1200 MW
Primary Fuel/Source	Water
Operational Status	Operational
Commissioning Year	2012
Construction Period	August 2006 – September 2012
Location	Kuandian County, Liaoning Province, China
Proximity to Dandong	54 km northeast
Lower Reservoir Source	Pushihe River (tributary of the Yalu River)
Upper Reservoir Location	Valley above the east side of the lower reservoir
Plant Type	Peaking power plant

Pushihe Pumped Storage Power Station