China’s State Grid Corporation has started the construction of an 800 kV ultra high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transmission line that will run for 1,069 km between Yan’an, in the Shaanxi Province (central China) and Hefei, in the Anhui Province (eastern China). The CNY20.5bn (US$2.84bn) transmission line will have a capacity of 8 GW.
The new transmission project will notably be connected to the 1.2 GW Yuexi pumped-storage hydropower plant, located in the Anhui Province and currently under construction. The power plant, which will feature four units of 300 MW each, is expected to require an investment of CNY7.5bn (US$1.04bn).
In January 2024, China’s State Grid Corporation announced that it would invest CNY500bn (US$70bn) in grid network construction in 2024 to develop ultra-high voltage (UHV) lines, ensure power supply stability and boost renewable power consumption in China. State Grid Corporation expects to complete six UHV AC lines in 2024 and start several new UHV projects.