Dams store water that is used mainly for human consumption and irrigation. It also allows the production of energy that is supplied to the electrical grid. According to information, China is building a dam at an altitude of 5,000 meters.
The total production capacity of the dam in China is 2.2 million kilowatts
It's hard to imagine, but it will happen. China is building a 5,000-meter dam. In perspective, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.
Maerdang's operator, China Energy, says this dam will have a total capacity of 2.2 million kilowatts and is expected to generate an average of more than 7.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year when it is completed. It is the company's first integrated renewable facility that includes hydroelectric power (which is generated by converting water energy into electrical energy), solar energy and energy storage.
China Energy says Maerdang will "cut" 2.56 million metric tons of standard coal equivalent consumption and 8.16 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
China is a world leader in renewable energy, but it is also the largest coal consuming and mining country in the world. Coal production increased by 5.8% in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year. Reuters reports that "the sharp rise in global coal prices and disruptions to energy supply chains in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine have prompted Beijing to increasingly prioritize energy security."