A New Era for Green Energy Transmission
Imagine flipping a switch in the desert and powering a megacity over 2,000 km away in the blink of an eye. That’s reality after the State Grid Corporation of China activated a ±800 kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) direct current line linking Hami in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with Chongqing Municipality. In just 0.007 seconds, electricity drawn from wind and solar farms reaches Chongqing’s 32 million residents, fueling homes, factories and public services across southwest China.
From Deserts to Data-Driven Impact
Xinjiang has transformed its vast deserts—once seen as economic obstacles—into a renewable energy powerhouse. By 2024, its installed capacity hit 201 million kW, with 112 million kW (55.7%) from renewables. But local demand can’t absorb all that clean power. That’s where UHV lines step in.
- Distance: 2,260 km from Hami to Chongqing
- Speed: 0.007 seconds for electricity to travel
- Annual Delivery: 36 billion kWh, over half sourced from new energy
- Carbon Savings: Avoids 6 million tonnes of coal and cuts about 16 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year
Boosting Regional Development
Beyond emissions cuts, this power corridor is a catalyst for economic growth and rural revitalization. Xinjiang cements its role as a national energy strategic supply base, while Chongqing—western China’s only energy-deficit province-level region—secures a stable, green supply. The project supports coordinated development across regions and lifts public welfare by ensuring reliable power for schools, hospitals and industries.
Scaling the Clean Grid
Since 2010, UHV projects have carried over 900 billion kWh from Xinjiang to 22 provincial-level regions across the Chinese mainland. As China races toward peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, innovations like the Hami–Chongqing line show how technology and collaboration can bridge the gap between energy supply and demand—at scale and at speed.
Powering the Future
The Hami–Chongqing UHV link is more than an engineering feat: it’s a story of transformation. It proves that with data-driven planning and cutting-edge tech, regions can share clean power, cut emissions and write the next chapter in sustainable development. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, this is a blueprint for the future of energy—and for a greener planet.
Reference(s):
UHV project launched, sending power from Xinjiang to Chongqing
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