Ultra-High-Voltage (UHV) Power Transmission System in China
From Global Energy Monitor
Ultra high voltage (UHV) refers to power transmission technology with alternating current (AC) voltage levels of 1000 kilovolts or more and direct current (DC) of ±800 kilovolts or more, a definition by China. Other countries may have different thresholds. China commissioned the 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.
Layout
Note.
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
- UK
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.
UHV Transmission Line Network details
Four stages of UHV development in China
- 2008-2014 Mainly hydro and coal power transmission 以煤电传输开端,以水电传输为主.
- 2015-2019 In order to improve the air quality in major cities, UHV permitting and construction accelerated, aiming to replace coal use in the areas. 改善大气环境, 输电代替输煤.
- 2020-2024 Establish and strengthen UHV regional power grid 建立并加强特高压局域电网.
- 2023- Accelerate providing access to renewable energy 为可再生能源提供通道.
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.