World-first ultra-high voltage power line starts operating

The Huaidong-Wannan 1,100 kilovolt ultra-high-voltage power transmission line – designed by PowerChina Hubei Engineering Co Ltd – successfully went into operation recently, according to company officials.

The direct current UHV power line has the world's highest voltage levels, the biggest transmission capacity, the longest transmission distance and the most advanced technical levels, they said.

A dramatic overview shows the power line of the Huaidong-Wannan 1,100 kV ultra-high-voltage electricity transmission project. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

The project, which began in Jan 2016, starts in Changji city in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and ends in the city of Xuancheng in Anhui province. The power transmission line has an overall length of 3,324 kilometers. Officials said the powerline's transmission capacity is 12 million kilowatts, which can power hundreds of high-speed trains driving from Beijing to Guangzhou.

They said it will effectively promote the development and use of clean energy in Xinjiang. The project had high technical requirements, since there were different terrains along the transmission line, of which 25.8 percent was flat ground, 49.2 percent was on hilly land and 25 percent crossed rivers.

There are 254 towers along the transmission line, of which 45 are angle towers and 204 are tangent towers. Officials said that the project is overseen by an efficient management system, strict security controls and reliable technical support.

The huge scale of the project becomes apparent, with the transmission cable stretching towards the horizon. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

They added that the project is also highly appreciated by State Grid Corporation of China and related construction and supervision companies.

After going into operation, the project has the power delivery capacity of 60-85 billion kilowatt-hours every year, reducing the need for 38 million tons of coal, carbon dioxide emissions of 70 million tons and sulfur dioxide emissions of 700,000 tons every year.

Officials said the project indicated that China has improved greatly in transmitting energy in large areas across regions.