China's State Grid constructs new UHV, hydropower plant projects

BEIJING -- The State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) on Thursday began the construction of a new ultra-high voltage power transmission line and a pumped-storage hydropower plant.

The Jinshang-Hubei 800-kilovolt UHV direct current power transmission project stretches 1,901 kilometers. It is currently the highest-altitude UHV direct current power transmission project in the world. State Grid said the project will pass through four provincial regions: Tibet, Sichuan, Chongqing and Hubei.

The Tongshan pumped-storage hydropower station will be equipped with four sets of power generators, each with a capacity of 350,000 kilowatts.

The total investment in the two projects will hit 42.7 billion yuan ($6.23 billion), according to State Grid.

So far, the company has completed the construction of 33 UHV projects nationwide, and it plans to construct more pumped-storage hydropower stations with an estimated total installed capacity of over 27 million kilowatts during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).