China’s State Grid, the country’s largest power transmission system operator, will invest CNY4tn (around US$570bn) to upgrade its national power grid between 2026 and 2030 under the 15th Five-Year Plan, representing a 40% increase over the previous plan (Xinhua, 15/01/2026).
The funding will support China’s west-to-east power transmission network, using ultra high-voltage (UHV) lines to transport electricity over thousands of kilometres from the sparsely populated western regions to the country’s major eastern cities. The capital expenditure is aligned with China’s national climate goals, with State Grid targeting an annual addition of around 200 GW of wind and solar capacity within its operational areas (China Daily, 16/01/2026).
By accelerating the construction of Ultra-High-Voltage (UHV) direct-current export channels, the company aims to increase cross-regional and cross-provincial transmission capacity by more than 30% compared with 2025 levels. The investments will also expand distribution networks in both urban and remote areas, while promoting off-grid and microgrid power generation solutions.