How the cascade hydropower system could work
The system is expected to consist of five cascade hydropower stations, tunnels and dams. The diversion dam and tunnel system shortcut the river's natural flow and divert water into tunnels, where it passes through hydropower power stations placed at strategic locations to generate electricity as the elevation drops. Here's our simulation of how that could look.
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Mainling dam
The dam creates a reservoir that would provide steady water flow downstream
Pei diversion dam
The dam would divert water
into the tunnel system
Water begins
its descent,
gathering energy
Hydropower
stations generate
electricity
Xirang dam
A final dam could regulate water when it flows through the tunnels and back into the main river
Water flow
Tunnels
Yarlung Tsangpo River
Approx. 2,000m
Approx. 50km
Mainling dam
Pei diversion dam
The dam creates a reservoir that would provide steady water flow downstream
The dam would divert water
into the tunnel system
Xirang dam
Water begins its descent,
gathering energy
Hydropower stations
generate electricity
A final dam could regulate water when it flows through the tunnels and back into the main river
Water flow
Tunnels
Yarlung Tsangpo River
Approx. 2,000m
Approx. 50km