China to install 500 MW impulse turbine at Tibet hydropower plant

• 16 days ago (2025-07-03)
• David Flin

Asia 949 Hydropower 145

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China has built the first of two 500 MW impulse turbines for the Datang Zala Hydropower Station in Tibet autonomous region. The 80 tonne turbine left its developer plant at Harbin Electric Machinery Company in northeast China on 2 July after four years of design and testing.

The Datang Zala Hydropower Station is located on the Yuqu River, a tributary of the Nu River, which flows from southwest China through Yunnan province and empties into the Andaman Sea.

Tao Xingming, Chief Technology Officer at Harbin Electric, said that the new turbine would raise power generation efficiency from 91 to 92.6 per cent.

The Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council said that Datang Zala is on schedule to start operation in 2028.