The world’s first reversible pumped storage unit with 600 r/min and 350 has been successfully placed into operation at the Changlongshan pumped storage plant in E Zhejiang Province, China, Voith Hydro has announced.

Voith has provided two complete power units (5 and 6) to the six unit project, which has an installed capacity of 2.1GW. Unit 5 successfully passed the 15-day trial operation at the beginning of May and was officially put into commercial operation. 

The performance of unit 5 received outstanding feedback from the owners and experts in the industry. “The data showed that the unit meets our excellence criteria and thereby proves that the engineering, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the world's first 600 r/min with 350 MW unit was successful," said Zhang Chengping, mechanical and electrical Chief Engineer of plant operator, the China Three Gorges Group (CTG).

The station has a rated head of 710m which is among the highest in China. The new unit’s rated speed of 600 r/min with a capacity of 350MW is a world’s first for such high-capacity and high-head units.