Recently, the first batch of 225.09 KW rooftop photovoltaic equipment at the dam area of Wudongde Hydropower Plant (Wudongde HPP)—the world's seventh largest and China's fourth largest hydropower plant—commenced operation. To date, it has achieved a maximum daily power generation capacity of over 1,500 kWh, supplying clean energy produced within the dam area to the office building and sci-tech innovation building of Wudongde HPP. Meanwhile, in the camp's greenbelts, a smart irrigation system is precisely nourishing plants and trees. A "zero-carbon + smart" dam area is rapidly taking shape at the promising land of Wudongde HPP.

Wudongde HPP is China's first ten-million-kilowatt-level hydropower project that has been constructed and put into operation since the end of the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. Located on the main stream of the Jinsha River at the junction of Luquan County, Yunnan Province, and Huidong County, Sichuan Province, Wudongde HPP lies within the important biodiversity conservation zone in the Hengduan Mountains and important dry-hot valley soil conservation area spanning Sichuan and Yunnan, featuring ecological fragility. Against the backdrop of China's "Dual Carbon" strategy, Wudongde HPP actively develops a "zero-carbon + smart" dam area integrating green energy, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies, positioning itself as a pioneer in constructing a zero-carbon and smart dam area along the world's largest clean energy corridor.

Zero-carbon industrial parks achieve zero carbon emissions within a cycle (typically one year) by offsetting all direct and indirect CO2 emissions through clean technology support, carbon recovery technologies, and energy storage and exchange solutions. The concept of "zero-carbon industrial parks", as a key vehicle to implement the "Dual Carbon" strategy, was first mentioned at the Central Economic Work Conference on December 12, 2024, which explicitly called for establishing a batch of such parks. In 2025, "zero-carbon industrial parks" were included in the government work report for the first time, proposing concrete implementation of the second batch of national carbon emission peak pilots and establishment of a batch of zero-carbon industrial parks and factories.

Although hydropower is a traditional renewable energy source, there is no clearly defined theoretical frameworks and construction guidelines for low-carbon dam area development in the hydropower industry. As part of its efforts to actively respond to the national call, CYPC, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation, launches a pilot project at Wudongde HPP to explore construction solutions and implementation pathways for integrated zero-carbon and smart dam areas, striving to create a new model of green, efficient, and intelligent development.

Calculations indicate that the dam area of Wudongde HPP emits approximately 3,500 tons of CO2 annually, with energy consumption accounting for 72%, transportation 20%, and other sources 8%. "We plan to build 10 MW distributed photovoltaics and supporting energy storage facilities within the dam area, which is expected to generate about 14 GWh of green electricity every year. We aim to establish a secure and reliable intelligent micro-grid within the dam area by leveraging an energy-carbon digital management platform, taking account of the upgrading of power supply equipment and facilities within the dam area," said Liu Shaoyong, Electrical Primary Equipment Management Director from the Production Management Department of Wudongde HPP. "Additionally, with the support of national policy, Wudongde HPP is advancing energy conservation and carbon reduction measures, including encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles and vessels, promoting smart lighting, reducing paper usage in offices, retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, retrofitting water systems for carbon reduction, and upgrading energy efficiency of air conditioners, targeting a genuine zero-carbon dam area by the end of 2027."  

Meanwhile, Wudongde HPP is also advancing a smart dam area. Centered on Xincun Camp and Hongmen Camp, Wudongde HPP is building a comprehensive smart dam area management system which deeply integrates technologies such as AI, mobile internet, IoT, cloud computing, and big data. This system is implemented through smart office, smart transportation, smart lighting, and smart irrigation. According to the development plan, multiple application scenarios of the smart dam area will soon be implemented within the dam area of Wudongde HPP.

"We will develop the 'Xiaode' intelligent voice assistant system to provide voice interaction functions for all smart dam subsystems. Through building smart energy-saving systems, we will achieve intelligent energy management, reduce energy loss, and enhance comfort in office energy usage within the dam area. We will implement an intelligent security system using digital technology for smart security management and control within the dam area, thus comprehensively enhancing personnel safety, property security, and safety of equipment and facilities", said Zhu Hao, Information Management Supervisor from the Production Management Department of Wudongde HPP. After full completion of the smart dam area in 2027, both office and residential activities within the dam area of Wudongde HPP will be infused with smart elements: driverless shuttle vehicles will transport employees within the dam area; external vehicles will be automatically guided to available parking spaces after passing through barrier gates; automated equipment will replace manual labor to achieve smart irrigation...

In the first half of 2025, the first smart irrigation project in the dam area of Wudongde HPP was put into operation at Hongmen Camp, achieving automated irrigation. As application scenarios of the smart dam area have been implemented gradually, the dam area of Wudongde HPP, located deep in the dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River, will provide valuable references for smart city development.

"The development of a zero-carbon and smart dam area will further enhance the digitalization and intelligentization of the dam area of Wudongde HPP, ultimately transforming the dam area into an advanced demonstration zone in China's hydropower sector that integrates smart management capabilities and green development advantages," said Yao Dengfeng, Director of Wudongde HPP.