Harnessing the renewable energy of flowing water to power Chinese communities
As China's economy continues to expand, the need to meet growing energy demand without impacting further on the planet is more important than ever. Air pollution is a considerable problem in many regions of China, further highlighting the importance of developing renewable energy alternatives that do not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
The Hezhou project, situated in the Southern province of Guangxi, China, is a run-of-river hydro plant that involves harnessing the power of flowing rivers to generate renewable, emission-free energy that is sent directly to China's southern power grid. By diverting water to flow through hydraulic turbines and generators, energy is endlessly generated to power surrounding villages and homes nearby.
Reducing the need for fossil-fuel generated electricity, both contributes towards the country’s green energy transition and increases energy security as electricity is fed directly to China's Southern grid. Simultaneously the move towards hydro power prevents the release of significant GHG emissions, which would otherwise be generated from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal. In addition the project creates employment opportunities for local communities with the training of employees on correct operation procedures within the power station, ensuring the safety of all on site. As costs of developing hydropower plants in rural locations is high, this project would not be able to take place without revenue generated from carbon credits.
