State Grid Corp of China, China’s major power grid operator, plans to build a network of ultra-high-voltage (UHV) power transmission lines by 2020, linking major energy production bases with the nation’s power-guzzling regions.
Liu Zhenya, president of State Grid, told China Daily that in order to improve the country’s power transmission capacity, the company will complete the construction of a network of UHV lines in northern, eastern and central China during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).
“UHV lines are able to send more electricity over longer distances more efficiently than conventional lines”, said Liu. “The accelerated development of such projects fits well with the needs of China’s power industry.”
The capacity of UHV lines can reach as much as 1,000 kilovolts (kV). China’s major power lines currently have a capacity of 500 kV.