On February 16, 2023, the project launch and implementation plan review meeting of the key project “Multi-source Balanced Allocation and Intelligent Control Technology for the Eastern Route Project of South-to-North Water Diversion” under the National Key R&D Program “Comprehensive Management of Water Resources and Water Environment in Major Basins such as the Yangtze River and the Huanghe River” was successfully held in Beijing. The project is led by China South-to-North Water Diversion Eastern Route Co., Ltd., with ten units including China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Tsinghua University, China Agricultural University, Jiangsu University and others jointly participating in collaborative research and tackling key problems. Our university participates as a backbone unit in two sub-projects: “Theory and Method of Coordinated Control of Water Quantity-Water Quality-Water Power for Eastern Route Project of South-to-North Water Diversion” and “Multi-dimensional Water Transfer Safety and Economic Operation Model for Pumping Station Project of Eastern Route of South-to-North Water Diversion”. Professor Zhang Desheng, Dr. Shen Xi and Professor Si Qiaorui are respectively responsible for the two sub-projects.

Thirteen invited experts attended the meeting, including Academician Ni Jinren of Peking University, Professor Chen Yongcan of Southwest Petroleum University, Professor Zhu Yuelong of Hohai University, Professor Wang Zhongjing of Ningxia University, Liu Zhiming, former deputy director of China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute under Ministry of Water Resources, Wen Zehang, senior researcher of Jiangsu South-to-North Water Diversion Project Construction Leading Group Office, Professor Chen Xiaohong of Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Zhang Yongxiang of Beijing University of Technology, Professor Cheng Li of Yangzhou University, Shen Hongfu, chief engineer of China Water Huaihe Planning Design and Research Co., Ltd., Professor Yi Yujun of Beijing Normal University, Hou Zhaocheng, deputy director of China South-to-North Water Diversion Group Smart Water Network Technology Co., Ltd., and Professor Ma Chao of Tianjin University. Leaders and representatives from the Department of International Cooperation and Science and Technology under Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Management Bureau under MWR (SNWDPMB), the South-to-North Water Diversion Planning Design Management Bureau under MWR, China South-to-North Water Diversion Co., Ltd., and the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21 attended the meeting. More than 70 people including project leaders, sub-project leaders and backbone members participated in the meeting.

The Eastern Route Project of South-to-North Water Diversion has a water transfer route of 1467 km, covering three major water sources of Yangtze River, Huaihe River and Yi-Shu-Si River Basin. It passes through 13 levels of 34 pumping stations, involving more than 70 sluice stations. It is the largest and most complex large-scale pumping station group cross-basin water transfer system in the world. The expert group fully discussed the technical route, research plan, progress plan and other contents of the project and each sub-project, and unanimously approved the implementation plan of this project and each sub-project.

The total investment of the project is 44.96 million yuan, of which 14.96 million yuan is allocated by the state as special funds. The official launch of the project marks that our university’s service capability in national large-scale water conservancy project. Our university will contribute to the high-quality development of subsequent projects of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, accelerate the construction of national water network backbone and main artery with wisdom and strength.