Construction of Sichuan-Shaanxi Power Passage Simultaneously Begins in Both Provinces

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Construction in two provinces for the $814 million Sichuan-Shaanxi DC Connection Project simultaneously began on May 7, 2008, the State Grid Corporation of China (Beijing) announced. The project starts at the Baoji Converter Station in Shaanxi Province and ends at the Deyang Converter Station in Sichuan Province. It is the second power passage connecting the southwestern power grid and the central Chinese power grid.

The project comprises two large +/-500-kilovolt converter stations and a 574-kilometer DC transmission line passing through Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. The project also has a grounding pole and associated communication devices, as well as a secondary system and reactive compensation devices. The designed transmission capacity of the project is 3,000 megawatts.

The research, design, construction and equipment manufacture of the project is progressing steadily. Presently, engineering, preliminary design and procurement of major equipment for the converter stations have been completed; investigation and design of the transmission line is ongoing; and construction preparation for the converter stations has been basically completed. The project is ready to start officially. The entire project is expected to complete in 2010. Upon completion, the project could reduce the spare capacity in each grid by 1,500 megawatts and improve the reliability of power supply as well as the capability of both grids in the event of a disaster.

Northwestern China is rich in coal resources, and Sichuan is rich in hydropower resources with about 100 million kilowatts of economic exploitable capacity, accounting for about one-fourth of China's total. Upon completion, the project will transmit surplus thermal power from the northwest power grid to the central grid in the dry season, and transmit the surplus hydropower from the central grid to the northwest grid during flood season. In addition, the project could reduce the spare capacity of each grid by 1,500 megawatts and improve the reliability in power supply, as well as the capability of both grids in the event of a disaster.

The first connection between the northwest and central grids is the 330-kilovolt Lingbao DC Connection Project, which has been successfully operating since it was commissioned in June 2005.

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