CHINA STARTS WORLD’S BIGGEST TRANSMISSION

China building power transmission line of world's largest capacity

2012-05-14 (Xinhua via China Daily)

“Construction of an ultra-high voltage power transmission line designed with the world's largest capacity [has begun] in China's far western Xinjiang region…The 800 kv ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission line connects the energy base of Hami prefecture in eastern Xinjiang with the central city of Zhengzhou, according to the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the project contractor.

“The 2,210-km-long line goes through the vast region of Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan. It costs 23.39 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), and is designed to have a transmission capacity of 8 million kW upon completion in 2014, setting u new world record…[It] will transmit 37 billion kWh on average annually…”

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“…[A] second 750-kv HVDC transmission line which links Xinjiang with the main network of the Northwest China Grid Co. Ltd. kicked off [the same day]…With an investment of 9.56 billion yuan, the 2,180-km-long line will become the major route to transmit wind and solar power generated in Hami prefecture, Jiuquan city of Gansu province, and Qaidam basin in Qinghai province to the rest parts of the country.

“...[T]he ultra-high voltage power transmission lines…[will help transmit electricity] from the energy-rich west and north [more than 2,000 km to the booming power network load centers in] the central and eastern regions…Xinjiang has 2 trillion tons of coal reserve, one third of which is in Hami…Ultra-high voltage power transmission (UHVPT) projects…[have met doubt about] whether the technology is mature enough and can bring about economic benefit...[but] China has been suffering prolonged and ever worsening power shortage in recent years, a driving force for the country to develop long-distance, high-voltage power transmission lines…State Grid Corporation of China [is expected to] push for the construction of four alternating current and three direct current ultra-high voltage power transmission lines across the country, with an investment exceeding 300 billion yuan in 2012 alone.”

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