China’s ultra-high-voltage grid to accelerate clean energy

As the world grapples with the urgent need for clean energy, China is pioneering an innovative solution to power its vast population and industrial base - an ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission network. 

In a quiet village on the outskirts of Shanghai, a large green structure surrounded by a maze of power lines and poles stands in stark contrast to the peaceful rural surroundings, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

This is the Fengxian Converter Station, located near the coastline of Hangzhou Bay, an inlet of the East China Sea. The station is surrounded by vegetable gardens, winding country roads, and a calm canal.

The Fengxian Converter Station is a key hub in China’s ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission system, receiving electricity that has traveled over 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) from the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station in southwestern China. The Xiangjiaba station taps into the energy of the Jinsha River, a major tributary of the Yangtze River.

The Xiangjiaba-Shanghai transmission link, which began operating in 2010, was one of China's pioneering UHV projects. This technology is designed to transmit electricity over vast distances and marked the beginning of a new era in China’s power infrastructure. Over time, the country has developed an extensive UHV network, often referred to as the "bullet trains for power", to send electricity from remote hydro and coal power stations to its densely populated cities.

China now views these massive power cables as crucial to its rapid expansion of wind and solar energy, which are concentrated in several distant regions. Countries like the UK, India, and Brazil have also implemented similar strategies.

Although UHV isn't the sole method for transmitting renewable energy, its use in China – home to the world’s largest national power grid – offers valuable insights for the global pursuit of solutions to accelerate the energy transition.

In simple terms, UHV transmission lines operate on the principle that higher voltage reduces the electric current needed for the same amount of power transmission. This results in less heat loss as electricity travels through the cables, allowing it to cover long distances more efficiently.

The Chinese refer to them as the "Shinkansen for power," adopting the Japanese term for bullet trains, which represent speed and efficiency.

According to Guo Liang, an engineer at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the quickest way to deliver electricity is by transmitting it directly to consumers, rather than bringing raw materials to power plants located nearer to them.

Electricity moves nearly as fast as light and is costly to store. "As soon as it is generated, it needs to be sent out. That's why we need such a network, the Shinkansen for power, to ensure its transmission" to those who need it, Guo stated during a talk show on China Central Television.

By Naila Huseynova