Wang Zhilin honored by International Hydropower Association

With an average annual power generation of 62.443 TWh, the Baihetan Hydropower Station is a pillar of China's west-to-east power transmission project. After all its units are put into operation, the station has the potential to save about 19.68 million tons of standard coal (equivalent to about 27.56 million tons of raw coal) each year and reduce emissions by 51.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, 170,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and about 150,000 tons of nitrogen oxides. Each kilowatt-hour generated by the Baihetan hydropower plant contributes to the green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and bolsters the nation's efforts to reach its carbon neutrality goals.

Before working for Baihetan project, Wang served as deputy director of the Xiluodu Construction Department and made great contributions in solving technical challenges characterized as "four-high and four-large" (i.e., high arch dams, high slopes, high water heads, high seismic areas, large caverns, large discharge volumes, large underground powerhouses and large tunnels). Under Wang's leadership, the project earned widespread acclaim from industry experts, and its underground excavation set a new standard for domestic hydropower stations. Through his efforts, China's accomplishments in hydropower construction have become world-renowned, as shown by Xiluodu Hydropower Station winning the "FIDIC Project Award".

When participating in the construction management of Three Gorges Project, Wang was responsible for the Dam Project Department, and presided over the temperature-control work of the dam. He effectively solved the thermal crack control problem and eliminated cracks in Phase III of the Three Gorges Project. As a result, the excavation was of especially high quality and the surrounding rock of the underground powerhouse is firmly under control.

During the project construction management, Wang fostered a team of skilled, capable and responsible technical personnel as well as an experienced team for managing large-scale hydropower constructions. These talents will play a crucial role in achieving China's strategic transformation of clean energy and the "double carbon" goal in the coming years.