According to reports, China is using AI technology to turn the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau dam project (Yangqu Hydropower Station) into the world’s largest 3D printing project built without the help of workers.
The hydropower station is expected to be completed in 2024 and will be able to provide Henan Province with 5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually.
The Yangqu Hydropower Station is a huge structure with a height of 180 meters. The entire project will use AI-controlled unmanned excavators, trucks, bulldozers, road pavers and road rollers, with the additive manufacturing process (Additive Manufacturing) commonly used in 3D printing. Project will be build layer by layer.
China has been striving to build large-scale hydropower stations, of which the Three Gorges Dam is the largest project, which can be called the largest water conservancy project in the world, and its power supply covers East China, Central China and Guangdong in South China.
The Xiluodu Hydropower Station on the Jinsha River is another large-scale project undertaken by the Chinese government. It was officially opened in 2014 and has become China’s main source of renewable energy as China implements policies to reduce carbon emissions.
In addition, there is the Longtan Hydropower Station, a large-scale hydroelectric power plant on the Hongshui River, which mainly supplies electricity to Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.
For many years, scientists have used AI to study the operational efficiency of dams, especially for monitoring, to locate risk factors such as dikes and rainstorms that will affect dams. In addition, AI helps managers remotely track dam maintenance and repairs through data.
China is very dependent on hydropower, which is the second largest energy source after fuel-fired power generation. The Chinese government is facing enormous pressure to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Henan Province, with a population of 100 million, can also alleviate the above pressure a little, in addition to delivering 5 billion kwh of electricity.
(Source of the first picture: Wind Power House )
