UHV project transmitting electricity to Hunan

The Ningxia-Hunan ±800 kilovolt ultra-high voltage direct current transmission project, which brings electricity from Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region to Central China's Hunan province, was put into operation on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the country's push for renewable energy integration.

The UHV transmission line, spanning 1,616 kilometers, is the first in China approved to primarily transmit electricity generated from wind and solar power plants located in Gobi Desert bases, said State Grid Corp of China, its operator.

More than half of the electricity transmitted through the line will be from renewable sources, the company said, highlighting its importance in facilitating the large-scale allocation of clean energy and enhancing power supply security.

"This project is not only a 'green artery' for cross-regional energy allocation, but also an important engine for Hunan to accelerate its green, low-carbon and high-quality development," said Meng Jun, chairman of the trade union at State Grid's Hunan subsidiary.

The Ningxia-Hunan project is supported by a total power generation capacity of 17.64 gigawatts, of which 13 GW is from renewable sources, including 4 GW of wind power and 9 GW of solar photovoltaic generation.

UHV lines offer superior performance compared to traditional power lines, delivering greater capacity over longer distances with reduced energy loss. This technology is vital for channeling renewable energy generated in remote western regions to populous centers in the east.

With a total investment of 28.1 billion yuan ($3.86 billion), the project is expected to reduce Hunan's standard coal consumption by around 6 million metric tons annually and cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 18 million tons, significantly optimizing the province's energy consumption structure.

The launch of the project will significantly alleviate Hunan's historical reliance on external energy sources and bolster its renewable energy capacity, officials said.

Hunan, which previously relied on external sources for as much as 80 percent of its primary energy, has long faced electricity shortages during peak summer and winter demand. However, rapid development of China's power infrastructure has transformed the situation, said Tang Jihong, head of the province's energy bureau.

"While coal-fired power remains a fundamental source of guaranteed power for Hunan, renewable energy installations have now become the province's largest power source. External power supplies are also a crucial supplement and support. This line can account for one-sixth of our province's electricity consumption, which can play a very important supporting role in solving Hunan's power supply. With more than 50 percent of its electricity coming from renewable sources, it can provide a very important supplement to our province's green development."

China has aggressively expanded its power grid over the last decade, adding over half a million kilometers of transmission lines, more than a third of the world's total. UHV lines are playing a key role, efficiently linking renewable energy sources in the west and north to high-demand areas in the more populous east.

The country's grid companies have also been actively stepping up investment in the construction of UHV power transmission projects, enabling efficient long-distance transmission of massive amounts of power.

As the energy revolution progresses, innovations like smart grids, advanced energy storage and virtual power plants are emerging. The rapid development and integration of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, are sparking a new wave of advancements in power technology.

China has been steadily expanding its power grid infrastructure in recent years. By the end of 2024, a total of 42 UHV AC/DC projects were operational, with 38 managed by State Grid Corp of China and four by China Southern Power Grid, enabling a cross-provincial and cross-regional power transmission capacity exceeding 340 million kW.