A major milestone for China’s pumped storage technology and high-end energy equipment localization
On May 16, a major milestone was achieved at the Langjiang Pumped Storage Power Station in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province. The stator of China’s first domestically developed 300 MW variable-speed pumped storage unit was successfully hoisted and precisely positioned.
This marks the official start of the electrical installation phase for China’s first independently developed large-scale variable-speed pumped storage unit, filling a key technological gap in the domestic energy equipment sector.
As a deeply involved participant in this national benchmark project, NSD Electric is providing core governor system equipment for the Langjiang Pumped Storage Power Station. The related equipment supply and project implementation are currently progressing according to schedule.
A National Benchmark Project for the Greater Bay Area
The Langjiang Pumped Storage Power Station is the first variable-speed pumped storage power station in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is also a key energy project under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and a supporting project for the country’s first major technical equipment application in the energy sector.
The power station has a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW, consisting of four 300 MW units. Among them, Unit 4 is China’s first fully domestically manufactured variable-speed pumped storage unit.
With a total investment of more than RMB 8.6 billion, the station is expected to generate 1.35 billion kWh of electricity annually after completion. It will serve as a “giant power bank” for the Greater Bay Area grid, significantly improving peak shaving, frequency regulation, and energy storage capabilities.
Technological Breakthrough: 7% Speed Variation Enables 50% Power Regulation
Compared with traditional fixed-speed pumped storage units, the domestically developed variable-speed unit represents a revolutionary technological leap.
1. More Flexible Regulation
By changing the rotational speed by only about 7%, the unit can achieve real-time and precise regulation across a 50% power range.
This allows the unit to adapt flexibly to both power generation and pumping conditions, improving operational efficiency and grid support capability.
2. Faster Grid Response
The variable-speed unit can respond to grid fluctuations at the millisecond level.
This fast response capability is especially important for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power. It helps stabilize grid operation and strengthens the security of the power system.
3. Fully Localized Manufacturing
The stator of the unit is 5.8 meters high, 5 meters in diameter, and weighs approximately 380 tons.
It is precisely assembled from around 120,000 pieces of 0.5 mm silicon steel sheets and more than 500 winding bars. With mechanical strength exceeding 550 MPa, the unit’s key components have achieved 100% localization, breaking the long-standing reliance on foreign technologies.
A Milestone for China’s Pumped Storage Industry
The start of installation for this domestically developed variable-speed pumped storage unit marks a milestone in the independent development of China’s high-end pumped storage equipment.
It demonstrates that China’s pumped storage technology has entered the world’s leading tier and provides a strong foundation for large-scale application of variable-speed pumped storage technology across the country.
In the future, the Langjiang Pumped Storage Power Station will play an important role in supporting the energy transition of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It will greatly enhance the power grid’s peak regulation, frequency regulation, and energy storage capacity, contributing to China’s dual-carbon goals and the construction of a new power system.
From technology development to engineering implementation, and from independent innovation to domestic substitution, NSD Electric remains committed to supporting China’s energy equipment industry. We will continue working with industry partners to build a stronger safeguard for national energy security.
