(Yicai Global) June 26 -- The world’s first 1 million-kilowatt hydro-solar power plant was connected to China’s grid in Kardze prefecture in southwest Sichuan province yesterday, guaranteeing electricity supply to the Sichuan-Chongqing region over the peak summer season.

The Kela Photovoltaic Power Station Phase I is the first stage of the Lianghekou Hydropower hybrid project along the Yalong river, with a maximum altitude of 4,600 meters and an installed capacity of 1 million kilowatts.

As the world’s largest and highest altitude hybrid hydro-solar project, its first phase can generate an average of 2 billion kW of electricity a year, saving more than 600,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1.6 million tons a year, The Paper reported yesterday.

Hydro-solar power projects use both sunlight and water as energy sources, thereby smoothing fluctuations in solar energy output for a more stable power supply, the report said. The combination also enables the grid to accept more photovoltaic access to the power system and absorb more new energy.

The Yalong River Basin is not only the main energy base for China’s west-to-east power transmission strategy but also crucial for Sichuan’s own power supply.

After the Kela plant goes into full operation, Yalong Hydro, as the largest power generation firm in Sichuan, will have an installed capacity of more than 20 million kW, accounting for a fifth of the total installed capacity of clean energy in the province, according to Chairman Qi Ningchun.

Under the plan, the Yalong River Basin will build a clean energy base of more than 100 million kW, including about 30 million kW of hydropower, over 60 million kW of wind power and solar energy generation, as well as more than 10 million kW of pumped storage power generation.

Editor: Peter Thomas