Changji-Guquan 1,100 kV UHV DC Transmission Project Starts Power Transmission

Changji-Guquan 1,100 kV UHV DC Transmission Project Starts Power Transmission

On Dec. 31, 2018, Changji-Guquan 1,100 kV UHV Project, the world's first 1,100 kV UHV DC transmission project, designed and constructed independently by China, successfully began full-voltage power transmission.

The Project was approved in December 2015 and construction began in January 2016. Starting from the Changji Converter Station in Xinjiang's Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and finishing in the Guquan Converter Station in Xuancheng, Anhui, it passes through Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Henan in the process with a total length of 3,293 kilometers, a rated voltage of 1,100 kV and transmission capacity of 12 GW. It is currently the world's largest and most technologically advanced transmission project with the highest voltage level, the largest transmission capacity, and the longest transmission distance.

1,100 kV UHV DC transmission is the latest innovation in power sector in China. It adopts advanced high voltage, high current, low loss converting technology and equipment manufacturing technology which successfully enables improvement across the full range of DC voltage, AC voltage, and transmission capacity. For the first time, 10 GW level power transmission at a range of 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers becomes possible. It marks a major technological leap and milestone in the field of high-voltage transmission in the world. The transmission capacity of a single 1,100 kV DC project can meet approximately 1/2 of the electricity demand of a medium-developed Chinese province, while the economic transmission distance can meet the needs of cross-border and even inter-continental power transmission, and can greatly improve resource allocation capability of the power system.

Xinjiang is one of China's five major comprehensive energy bases, with conditions for the large-scale development of coal, wind, and solar power. The quality of coal resources in the Zhundong area is excellent and the development condition is outstanding, hence it is suitable for generation near the site. The area's proven coal reserves are 213.6 billion tons. The planned production capacity in the near future will be able to support 40 GW of coal-fired power installed capacity. Xinjiang is one of the nine large wind power bases planned and built in China, with a potential capacity of more than 200 GW. The use of advanced UHV transmission technology to implement large-scale ''transmission of Xinjiang Power'' can effectively promote the intensive development of the Xinjiang energy base and turn resource advantages into economic advantages. The Changji-Guquan 1,100 kV UHV DC Project is a landmark project of ''transmission of Xinjiang Power'', which is of great strategic significance to efforts to promote the development of the Xinjiang energy base, stimulate economic growth, and achieve healthy and rapid development and long-term stability in Xinjiang.

Facing imbalance between power supply and demand, shortage of land resources and environment protection, the well-developed East China is in no condition to further expand local coal-fired power generation. Changji-Guquan 1,100 kV UHV DC Project represents the ''Power Silk Road'' connecting Xinjiang and East China. It can transfer 66 TWh of electricity to East China every year to meet the demand of 50 million households and reduce coal transportation by 30.24 million tons per year (the equivalent of 25,000 trains with 20 cars each if calculated by train capacity), which is of great significance to to defend the blue of skies.

It is found that the Changji-Guquan 1,100 kV UHV DC Project features total investment of 40.7 billion yuan, increases the output value of the power transmission and transformation equipment manufacturing by 28.5 billion yuan, and drives investment of 101.8 billion yuan in relevant industries such as power generation. Additionally, it has created 28,000 jobs and drives 13 billion yuan of GDP growth each year, while at the same time increasing tax revenue by 2.4 billion yuan.