Xiluodu Dam

Design and characteristics

Xiluodu is a high, curved dam that takes advantage of steep river canyon walls to resist water pressure. Its principal components include the concrete arch structure, a large reservoir, an underground powerhouse with multiple turbine-generator units, and auxiliary spillways for flood discharge. The project uses modern civil, hydraulic and electro-mechanical systems to convert river flow into electricity and to regulate downstream flows.

History and construction

Planned as part of a broader programme to harness the Jinsha section of the Yangtze, the project passed feasibility and approval stages before major works began. Construction required diversion tunnels, large-scale concrete placement and the installation of high-capacity turbines and transformers. The staged commissioning of generating units allowed progressive contribution to the regional grid as the project neared completion.

Purposes and impacts

The dam’s primary purpose is bulk electricity generation for industry and cities, supporting renewable supply and grid stability. Secondary objectives include flood control, improved river navigation possibilities, and benefits to regional development. Like many large dams, Xiluodu has produced environmental and social impacts such as reservoir inundation, changes in sediment transport and local resettlement, which have been subject to study and mitigation efforts.

Notable facts and distinctions

• It is one of the major hydroelectric stations on the Yangtze River system, built to serve rapidly growing energy demand.
• The project is often cited in discussions of large-scale arch-dam engineering and high-head hydropower development.
• The site is located near Yunnan Province and serves regions across China with bulk power transfers.

Further reading

For technical summaries and project reports see pages on hydroelectric power and large-dam engineering; and for regional context consult materials on the dam and river basin planning.