Ultra-High-Voltage (UHV) Power Transmission System in China

From Global Energy Monitor

Ultra high voltage (UHV)  refers to transmission technology with alternating current (AC) voltage levels of 1000 kilovolts or more and direct current (DC) of ±800 kilovolts or more. China commissioned first such power transmission line in 2008. As of March 2025, 42 UHV power transmission lines were operating, half of which with AC and half with DC.

Footnote 1

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Technology

Abbreviations

  UHVDC --超高压直流输电(ultra-high-voltage direct current)

  UHVAC-- 超高压交流输电( ultra-high-voltage alternating current)

  HVDC--高压直流电(High-voltage direct current)

The advantages of UHV

  • large transmission capacity
  • long transmission distance
  • low line loss
  • space saving
  • Improved Efficiency: The application of ultra-high voltage technology allows an effective increase in transmission efficiency, reducing interference caused by external and internal factors. Besides, it does not require reactive compensation, unlike traditional power transmission models, which may be limited by thermal resistance problems in the high voltage cables, which affects the stability of the transmission.
  • Greater Reliability and Stability: Ultra high voltage transmission is more reliable and stable, Effectively avoiding wasting energy during transmission. Even in adverse conditions, it can meet high power transmission demands, something that traditional methods cannot match.
  • Costs reduction: The application of ultra-high voltage transmission technology allows a significant reduction in power transmission costs. According to data, The transmission capacity of ultra-high voltage lines is more than three times higher compared to conventional transmission lines. This means that under the same transmission conditions, ultra-high-voltage networks can reduce electricity grid costs by 90%.
  • Balance in Energy Distribution: Promotion of ultra-high voltage transmission technology can achieve a balance in electric power distribution, benefiting various regions and ensuring equitable distribution of energy.

The disadvantages of UHV

  • Impact on Human Health: There is a debate in the scientific community about the impact of ultra-high voltage on human health. A definitive conclusion has not yet been reached and a more complete data analysis is required.. Fortunately, Most ultra-high voltage transmission lines are located in areas far from inhabited areas., which limits direct contact with the population.
  • Need for Continuous Innovation: Despite significant advances in ultra-high voltage transmission technology and its promising future in the electrical sector, it is necessary to continue innovating based on the changing demands of energy transmission. The rapid evolution of electrical technologies implies the need to research and develop products such as lightning arresters and transformers in accordance with power transmission requirements.
  • Vulnerable for natural disasters and the terrorism attack, especially the DC transmission lines. ((need to add more from the debate))
  • Expensive on constructing such a line.

Background

Who invented UHV?

  • The former Soviet Union launched the first 907 kilometers long UHV transmission line, connecting the towns of Ekibastuz and Kokchetav in Kazakhstan in September 1985 with a voltage of 1150 kV.  It was downgraded to a common 500 kV after the dismantlement of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Besides China, which countries have developed UHV transmission lines?

  • India
  • Japan.
  • Brazil
  • Italy

When did China adopt the technology?

  • Since 2004, China began large scale experiment on UHV. In 2006, the first such line, Southeastern Shanxi - Nanyang - Jingmen UHV  was permitted for construction and went operational in 2008.

Four stages of UHV development in China

  • Starting from 2008-2014, mainly hydro and coal power transmission  以煤电传输开端,以水电传输为主.
  • 2014-2019 In order to improve the air quality in east and central areas, power transmission instead of coal transportation 改善大气环境, 输电代替输煤. facing severe smog and the public pressing to improve the air quality in big cities, UHV construction accelerated.
  • 2020-2024 Establish and strengthen UHV regional power grid  建立并加强特高压局域电网.
  • 2023- Provide access to renewable energy 为可再生能源提供通道.

UHV Transmission Line Network details

The network details are split into four categories based on the development stages.

Table 1: UHV projects commissioned between 2008-2014.

UHV Power Tansmission Line UHV Tansmission Line in Chinese Other name Status Commissioned Year Capacity 额定输送容量 (MW) Technology Transmission Distance(km) circuit Investment (Billion RMB) Permitted Date Ultimate Parent Start Region End Region
Anhui South- Zhejiang North- Shanghai 皖电东送淮南-浙北-上海特高压交流输电示范工程 皖电东送 operating 2013-08-01 10500 1000 kV Ultra-AC 648.7 2 18.5 2012-09 State Grid Anhui Shanghai
Southeastern Shanxi - Nanyang - Jingmen 晋东南--南阳--荆门1000千瓦特高压交流实验示范工程 operating 2008-01 5000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 645 5.887 2006-8 State Grid Shanxi Hubei
Xiangjiaba-Shanghai 向家坝-上海±800千伏特高压直流输电示范工程 复奉直流 operating 2010 6400 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1907 23.274 2007-04-26 State Grid Sichuan Shanghai
Jinping-Jiangsu South 锦屏-苏南 ±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 锦苏直流 operating 2012-12-21 7200 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2059 22 2008-11 State Grid Sichuan Jiangsu
Xiluodu-Zhejiang 溪洛渡-浙江±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 宾金直流, 溪浙工程 operating 2014-07 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1680 23.855 2012-07 State Grid Sichuan Zhejiang
Hami South -- Zhengzhou 哈密南--郑州±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 天中直流,哈郑直流,疆电外送第三通道 operating 2014 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2210 23.4 2012-5 State Grid Xinjiang Henan
Yunnan-Guangdong 云南楚雄-广东惠东(云广±800千伏特高压直流输电工程) 楚穗直流,云广直流 operating 2010 5000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1373 13.2 2006 China Southern Power Grid Yunnan Guangdong
Nuozhadu-Guangdong 糯扎渡送电广东±800kV直流输电工程(云南普洱-广东江门) 普侨直流 operating 2013 5000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1413 13.3 2011-10 China Southern Power Grid Yunnan Guangdong
Zhejiang North-Zhejiang Middle-Zhejiang South-Fuzhou 浙北-福州1000千伏特高压交流输变电工程 浙福特高压 operating 2014-12-26 6800 1000 kV Ultra-AC 603 2 18.87 2013-03 State Grid Zhejiang Fujian

Table 2: UHV projects commissioned 2015-2019.

UHV Power Tansmission Line UHV Tansmission Line in Chinese Other name Status Commissioned Year Capacity 额定输送容量 (MW) Technology Transmission Distance(km) circuit Investment (Billion RMB) Permitted Date Ultimate Parent Start Region End Region
Anhui South- Nanjing- Shanghai 皖电东送淮南-南京-上海1000千伏特高压交流输变电项目 皖电东送 operating 2019-09-26 6000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 779.5 2 26.1 2014-4-21 State Grid Anhui Jiangsu
Jiuquan- Hunan 酒泉-- 湖南+-800千伏特高压直流输电工程 (陇电入湘) 祁韶直流,酒湖工程 operating 2017-6 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2383 26.2 2015-5-18 State Grid Gansu Hunan
Xiong'an-Shijiazhuang 雄安-石家庄1000千伏特高压交流工程 (北京西-石家庄交流特高压输变电工程) operating 2019-06-04 1000 kV Ultra-AC 228 2 3.5 2017-07 State Grid Hebei Hebei
Xilingol-Shengli 锡盟-胜利特高压交流输电工程 operating 2017-7 3000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 240 2 4.956 2016-01 State Grid Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia
Xilingol- Jiangsu 锡盟-泰州±800千伏特高压直流工程 锡泰直流 operating 2017-8 10000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1619 26.4 2015-10-30 State Grid Inner Mongolia Jiangsu
Xilingol- Shandong 锡盟--山东1000千伏特高压交流输变电工程 operating 2016 - 8 9000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 730 2 17.8 2014-7-12 State Grid Inner Mongolia Shandong
Western Mongolia- Tianjin 蒙西-天津南1000千伏特高压交流输变电工程 operating 2019-01-11 6000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 608 2 17.5 2015-1 State Grid Inner Mongolia Tianjin
Shanghai Temple- Shandong 上海庙--山东临沂±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 昭沂直流 operating 2019 10000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1238 22.1 2015-12 State Grid Inner Mongolia Shandong
Jarud- Shandong Qingzhou 扎鲁特--山东青州±800千伏特高压直流输电工程(鲁固直流项目) 鲁固直流 operating 2017-12-31 10000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1234 22.1 2016-8 State Grid Inner Mongolia Shandong
Eastern Ningxia- Zhejiang 宁东-浙江±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 (灵州-绍兴±800千伏特高压直流输电工程) 灵绍直流 operating 2016-08-01 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1720 23.7 2014-8-5 State Grid Ningxia Zhejiang
Yuheng- Weifang 榆横--潍坊1000千伏特高压交流输变电工程 operating 2017-08 6000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 1049 2 24.2 2015-5 State Grid Shaanxi Shandong
Northern Shanxi- Nanjing 晋北--江苏±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 (雁门关-淮安特高压直流输电工程) 雁淮直流 operating 2017-07 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1119 16.2 2015-6-10 State Grid Shanxi Jiangsu
Zhundong - Southern Anhui 准东--皖南+-1100千伏特高压直流输电工程 吉泉直流,疆电外送第四通道 operating 2019 12000 1100 kV Ultra-DC 3324 40.7 2015-12-28 State Grid Xinjiang Anhui
Yunnan Northwest-Guangdong 滇西北—广东±800千伏直流输电工程(丽江—深圳±800千伏特高压直流线路) 新东直流 operating 2018-05-18 5000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1953 17 2015-12-28 China Southern Power Grid Yunnan Guangdong

Table 3: UHV projects commissioned 2020-2024.

UHV Power Tansmission Line UHV Tansmission Line in Chinese Other name Status Commissioned Year Capacity 额定输送容量 (MW) Technology Transmission Distance(km) circuit Investment (Billion RMB) Permitted Date Ultimate Parent Start Region End Region
Fuzhou-Xiamen 福州-厦门1000千伏特高压交流输电工程 operating 2023-12-16 1000 kV Ultra-AC 234 2 7.1 2022-01 State Grid Fujian Fujian
Gansu East- Shandong 陇东-山东特高压直流工程(陇电入鲁) 陇电入鲁 operating 2024-12 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 926 20.2 2023-2 State Grid Gansu Shandong
Zhangbei-Shengli 张北-胜利1000千伏特高压输电交流项目 operating 2024-10-31 1000 kV Ultra-AC 366 2 6.786 2022-09-15 State Grid Hebei Inner Mongolia
Zhangbei-Xiong'an 张北-雄安1000千伏特高压交流输变电工程 operating 2020-08-29 6000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 319 2 5.98 2018-11 State Grid Hebei Hebei
Zhumadian-Nanyang 驻马店-南阳1000千伏特高压交流输电工程 operating 2020-06-06 1000 kV Ultra-AC 188.4 2 2.16 2018-12-10 State Grid Henan Henan
Zhumadian-Wuhan 驻马店-武汉1000千伏特高压交流输电工程 operating 2023-11-27 1000 kV Ultra-AC 287 2 3.8 2021-11-17 State Grid Henan Hubei
Nanyang-Jingmen-Changsha 南阳~荆门~长沙1000kV特高压交流输变电工程 operating 2022-10 6000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 625.8 2021-4-1 State Grid Henan Hunan
Jingmen-Wuhan 荆门—武汉1000千伏特高压交流输变电工程 operating 2022-12-28 1000 kV Ultra-AC 234 6.5 2020-12-23 State Grid Hubei Hubei
Wuhan-Nanchang 武汉至南昌1000千伏特高压交流线路工程 operating 2023-12-27 1000 kV Ultra-AC 462.9 2 9.082 2022-6-27 State Grid Hubei Jiangxi
Western Mongolia-Mid Shanxi 蒙西-晋中1000千伏特高压交流工程 operating 2020-09 8000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 313 2 5.4 2018-03 State Grid Inner Mongolia Shanxi
Nanchang-Changsha 南昌-长沙1000千伏特高压交流输电工程 operating 2021-12-26 1000 kV Ultra-AC 341 2 10.2 2020-12-22 State Grid Jiangxi Hunan
Qinghai-Henan 青海—河南±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 (青豫直流) 青豫直流 operating 2020-12-30 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1587 22.3 2018-10 State Grid Qinghai Henan
North of Shaanxi-Hubei Wuhan 陕北-湖北±800千伏特高压直流工程 陕武直流 operating 2021 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1137 18.5 2019-01-01 State Grid Shaanxi Hubei
Weifang-Linyi-Zaozhuang-Heze-Shijiazhuang 潍坊-临沂-枣庄-菏泽-石家庄1000千伏特高压交流工程 (山东-河北特高压交流环网) operating 2020-01-04 1000 kV Ultra-AC 816 2 14 2017-10-31 State Grid Shandong Hebei
Yazhong-Jiangxi 雅中-江西±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 雅湖直流 operating 2021 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1696 24.4 2019-08 State Grid Sichuan Jiangxi
Sichuan-Chongqing 川渝1000千伏特高压交流工程 operating 2024-12-27 4000 1000 kV Ultra-AC 658 2 28.6 2022-09 State Grid Sichuan Chongqing
Baihetan-Jiangsu 白鹤滩-江苏±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 建苏直流 operating 2022-07-01 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2087 30.7 2020-11 State Grid Sichuan Jiangsu
Baihetan-Zhejiang 白鹤滩—浙江±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 金塘直流 operating 2022-12-30 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2121 29.9 2021-07 State Grid Sichuan Zhejiang
Wudongde-Guangxi-Guangdong 乌东德电站送电广东广西特高压多端柔性直流示范工程 (昆柳龙柔性直流工程) 昆柳龙直流 operating 2020-12 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1452 24.3 2018-03 China Southern Power Grid Yunnan Guangdong

Table 4: UHV projects under construction and proposed.

UHV Power Tansmission Line UHV Tansmission Line in Chinese Other name Status Commissioned Year Capacity 额定输送容量 (MW) Technology Transmission Distance(km) circuit Investment (Billion RMB) Permitted Date Ultimate Parent Start Region End Region
Gansu-Zhejiang 甘肃-浙江±800千伏特高压直流输电工程(陇电入浙) 陇电入浙 construction 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2370 35.3 2024-7 State Grid Corperation of China Gansu Zhejiang
Badan Jilin-Sichuan (Gansu-Sichuan) 巴丹吉林-四川±800千伏特高压直流线路工程(陇电入川) 陇电入川 proposed 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC State Grid Corperation of China Gansu Sichuan
Western Mongolia-Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei 蒙西-京津冀(库布齐-雄安)±800kV特高压直流输电线路工程 (库布其北—沧州±800kV 特高压直流输电工程) proposed 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 699.7 State Grid Corperation of China Inner Mongolia Hebei
Ningxia-Hunan 宁夏-湖南±800千伏直流特高压外送工程 construction 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1634 28.1 2023-05-24 State Grid Corperation of China Ningxia Hunan
Shaanxi-Anhui 陕西-安徽±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 construction 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1070 20.5 2024-02-22 State Grid Corperation of China Shaanxi Anhui
Datong-Huailai-Tianjin South 大同-怀来-天津南特高压交流工程 construction 2027 1000 kV Ultra-AC 771.9 2 22.5 2024-09 State Grid Corperation of China Shanxi Tianjin
Jinshang-Hubei 金上-湖北±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 金湖特高压 construction 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 1784 33.5 2022 State Grid Corperation of China Sichuan Hubei
Tibet Southeast-Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao 藏东南-粤港澳大湾区±800千伏特高压直流输电工 藏玉直流 proposed ±800 kV Ultra-DC 54.9 China Southern Power Grid 51%, State Grid 49% Tibet Guangdong
Hami North-Chongqing 哈密—重庆±800千伏特高压直流输电工程 哈重特高压,“疆电外送”第三条直流通道 construction 2025 8000 ±800 kV Ultra-DC 2290 28.1 2023-07 State Grid Corperation of China Xinjiang Chongqing

Articles and resources

Table 4: Under construction proposed and announced.

References

Related GEM.wiki articles

External resources

External articles