WUHAN -- China's second-largest hydropower station Xiluodu has generated over 50 billion kwh of electricity so far this year, its operator, China Three Gorges Corporation, said Sunday.

The amount is equal to the total power consumption of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, in 2015 and equivalent to the burning of 20 million tonnes of coal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 50 million tonnes.

Since it started operation in July 2013, the station has generated a total of 160 billion kwh of electricity.

With 18 large generators and a total capacity of 13.9 gigawatts, Xiluodu is the world's third-largest station after the Three Gorges and Itaipu hydroelectric projects.