36氪精选：1.2万亿超级工程，瞄准小城墨脱

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significance and challenges of the Yarlung Tsangpo River hydropower project in Medog County, Tibet, highlighting its potential to generate substantial clean energy and its implications for China's energy structure and carbon neutrality goals [6][22][27]. Group 1: Project Overview - The Yarlung Tsangpo River project has a total investment of 1.2 trillion, making it China's first trillion-level infrastructure project, surpassing the combined costs of major projects like the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway and the South-to-North Water Diversion [6][11]. - The project aims to harness the natural drop of over 2,000 meters in a 200-kilometer stretch of the river, with an estimated annual power generation of 3,000 billion kilowatt-hours, enough to power Beijing for two years [11][19]. Group 2: Technical Challenges - The project faces significant technical challenges, including the need for a multi-stage development approach due to the extreme elevation drop, requiring the construction of five hydropower stations [13][15]. - Advanced tunneling technology is necessary for the project, with large-diameter tunnel boring machines costing 200-300 million each, which were previously dominated by foreign companies [15][17]. Group 3: Economic and Energy Implications - The project is essential for transforming China's energy mix, as coal-fired power currently accounts for over 60% of electricity production, and the hydropower stations will enhance clean energy capacity [22][25]. - The demand for electricity is increasing, with a notable rise in consumption from high-tech manufacturing and electric vehicles, indicating a growing need for clean energy sources [25][26]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The completion of the Yarlung Tsangpo project is expected to take several years, but it represents a critical investment in the future of energy infrastructure, impacting not just local areas but the entire nation [27].