Chahanwusu Dam is a 309 MW hydro power station in Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, China. It is operated by China Energy Investment Group Xinjiang Energy Co Ltd [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 309k homes (estimated). It ranks #1859 of 6,685 China power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2007, it is around 19 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 13.2% of China's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (41.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1070847.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000600639; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 309 MW, Chahanwusu Dam is well above the median hydro plant in China (24 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of China hydro capacity
- 0.1% of 262,337 MW across 947 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 143 of 381 dated hydro plants in China are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in China
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by China Energy Investment Group Xinjiang Energy Co Ltd [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 115% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 95/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #134 largest hydro power plant of 947 in China by capacity.
China has 947 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 262,337 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Xinjiang Kaidu River Liushugou · Hydro · 180 MW · Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
- Ha`ermodun A · Solar · 20 MW · Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
- Korla C · Solar · 35 MW · Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
- Korla B · Solar · 20 MW · Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
- Korla A · Solar · 20 MW · Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
- Yanqi C · Solar · 20 MW · Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu
Location
Coordinates 42.3311, 85.5104 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Chahanwusu Dam?
Chahanwusu Dam is a 309 MW hydro power plant in Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, China, commissioned in 2007.
Who operates Chahanwusu Dam?
Chahanwusu Dam is operated by China Energy Investment Group Xinjiang Energy Co Ltd [100%].