State Grid of China to Boost Transmission, Distribution Investments 24% in 2015

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Beijing, China)--Despite a drop in capital investments for power generation, China's investment in transmission and distribution has continued to grow at a rapid pace. Investments for transmission and distribution by State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) (Beijing) topped $54 billion in 2014, an increase of 14.1% over 2013. Investments this year are expected to reach $68 billion, an increase of 24% over 2014, according to disclosures from the recent SGCC Annual Working Conference in Beijing.

According to the disclosures, SGCC plans to kick off construction on 64,000 kilometers (km) of alternating-current (AC) transmission lines, with capacities of 110 (66) kilovolts (kV) and above, with 350,000 megavolt amperes (MVA) of substation capacity, and 13,000 km of direct-current (DC) transmission lines, with a conversion capacity of 140 GW. A total of 46,000 km of AC transmission lines with capacities of 110 (66) kV and above, with 240,000 MVA of substation capacity, will be put into operation, including key projects such as the AC transmission line from Kuche to Kashi, and further improvements to the 750-KV main grid in Northwest China.

On the transmission side, the SGCC plans to gain approval this year for six AC lines and eight DC lines, including two AC and four DC lines scheduled for kickoff in the first half of the year, and four AC and four DC lines to kick off in the second half. SGCC plans to commission three AC and one DC ultra-high voltage grid lines in 2016, and one AC and four DC lines in 2017.

SGCC also plans to put 50 new smart grid substations into operation, and to install 60.6 million smart grid electricity meters to automatically retrieve data from 316 million clients in 2015.

In the distribution side, the SGCC plans to complete the renovation of urban systems in 30 key cities, and the core areas of 30 other cities to achieve more than 50% automation. In addition, the SGCC plans to resolve low-voltage issues for 5.05 million customers, and strengthen connections between 21 county grids and the main grid in 2015.

Industrial Info currently tracks more than 4,400 active power projects with a total proposed investment of $1 trillion and more than 2,000 operational power plants in China. For more information send inquiries to powergroup@industrialinfo.com.

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