Installation began on world's largest hydroelectric turbine generators at Xiangjiaba Dam in late January.

Using proprietary Chinese technology, the turbines can each generate 800,000 kilowatts. At 6.3 meters in diameter and weighing more than 1,900 tons, they are the largest in the world.

Installation requirements for such large generators are stringent, said Tu Yangwen, deputy head of the power station's installation program.

The installed tolerance of each turbine cannot exceed 0.9 mm, stricter than 1.2 mm in the Three Gorges project.

After a year for installation and testing the generators are expected to go online in the fall next year.

With eight advanced turbines, Xiangjiaba joins the Three Gorges Project and Gezhouba Dam as key national hydropower stations and will generate more than 30 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually when fully operational.

(Source: China Daily)