Chongqing - The State Grid Corp of China, the developer and operator, announced the commencement of a pumped-storage hydroelectric project and construction of a power transmission initiative connecting Hami in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to Chongqing municipality on August 8.
Xinjiang Hami Santanghu Wind Farm is a 99MW onshore wind power project (Photo/Xinhua News)
This endeavor, known as the Hami-Chongqing project, is a key component of China's comprehensive strategy to cultivate clean energy sources, including solar and wind power, within its arid deserts and vast uncultivable expanses, p the Northwestern region.
State Grid asserts that this initiative will be pivotal in accelerating the nation's transition towards a low-carbon energy sector.
The Hami-Chongqing 800-kv ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission project boasts a substantial investment totaling approximately USD 3.97 billion, with a rated transmission capacity of 8 million kilowatts.
Extending 2,290 kilometers, the power transmission network will traverse five provincial-level areas, including Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Chongqing.
"Chongqing is promoting the realization of major national strategies such as the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor," said a spokesperson from State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company. "With robust urban and rural development momentum, there is a strong external demand for electricity."
Once the Hami-Chongqing project is operational, it is expected to supply Chongqing with an annual power delivery exceeding 36 billion kilowatt-hours.
"Electricity expressway," advancement of ultra-high voltage technology
Hami and several other Xinjiang locations have been designated vital gigawatt-level wind power hubs in China. The concept of transmitting Xinjiang's power to Chongqing was initially proposed in 2010.
However, importing electricity from Xinjiang, a distance of over 3,000 kilometers, posed considerable challenges encompassing extensive infrastructure planning, construction costs, and power transmission losses. These hurdles have gradually been overcome with the advancement of ultra-high voltage technology.
Termed the "electricity expressway," the ultra-high voltage direct current project offers advantages such as direct point-to-point transmission, high capacity delivery, extended transmission distances, and minimal line losses.
On the same day, construction commenced on the Liziwan pumped-storage hydroelectric station in Fengdu County.
Representatives from State Grid Chongqing Power emphasized that once both projects are operational, they will contribute to optimizing Chongqing's energy supply structure, augmenting the proportion of green energy consumption, and annually replacing the consumption of 6.3 million tons of coal while curbing carbon dioxide emissions by 17.3 million tons.
These efforts are poised to play a proactive role in propelling the energy revolution toward sustainable green development.