The Maerdang Hydropower Station, situated in Maqen County, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, at an average altitude of 3,300 meters, boasts a total installed capacity of 2.32 million kilowatts. It comprises four 550,000-kilowatt units and one 120,000-kilowatt unit. As the highest-altitude and largest-capacity hydropower project under construction in the Yellow River basin, all five turbine generators are set to become fully operational on December 31. Photo: Screenshot from CMG's report.

The second unit of the Maerdang Hydropower Station, the highest-altitude and largest-capacity hydropower project under construction in the Yellow River basin, is set to complete final testing on Monday, China Group Media (CMG) reported.

On Tuesday, the five turbine generators, including four 550,000-kilowatt units and one 120,000-kilowatt unit, will be put into operation to generate electricity, according to the CMG report.

The Maerdang Hydropower Station, located in Maqen County, Northwest China's Qinghai Province at an average altitude of 3,300 meters, has a total installed capacity of 2.32 million kilowatts. To harness the power of the fast-flowing water, the Maerdang Hydroelectric Station was built in a steep canyon. 

Located in a nature reserve, the construction of the hydropower station aimed to minimize its impact on local wildlife. The reservoir created by the dam acts as an "ecological stabilizer," increasing humidity and precipitation in the area, forming new wetlands. This initiative stabilizes the regional ecosystem, improving habitats for aquatic species, amphibians, and wading birds within the Sanjiangyuan conservation area, according to CMG.

Innovative "fish lifts" have been installed at the base of the dam to help fish migrate. The lifts carry the fish upstream, where they are guided through chutes to a sorting room. Rare species are then transported by special trucks to upstream conservation areas for release, continuing their ancient migratory journey along the Yellow River. In addition, a fish breeding and release station has been established to help replenish rare fish populations and maintain the ecological balance of the Yellow River basin, CMG reported.

Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Monday that compared to other types of power stations, the hydropower station offers clean, renewable energy with reduced operating costs and minimal environmental disruption. 

"Its ability to regulate output through reservoirs delivers a stable power supply while supporting flood control, irrigation, and other critical water management functions. The technology is well-established, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for power generation," Lin said.

China is a global leader in hydropower, with advanced technology and decades of experience in constructing large-scale hydropower stations. "Due to its challenging high-altitude terrain, the Maerdang Hydropower Station only began construction in recent years. Its completion and operation represent a major technological milestone," Lin said.

Global Times