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Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Transmission: Building the Backbone of the New Power Grid and Driving the Green Energy Transition
As China continues to adjust its renewable energy grid connection and accelerate the development of its renewable energy sector, its power system is facing multiple challenges. These include the geographical mismatch between energy resources and electricity demand, the large-scale integration of renewable energy, and the need to maintain a dynamic balance between electricity supply and demand.
Against this backdrop, Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) transmission technology, with its advantages of long-distance transmission, large capacity and low power losses, has become an important pillar in optimising energy resource allocation, ensuring a secure electricity supply and advancing China’s green and low-carbon energy transition.
UHV Technology Addresses the Geographical Mismatch Between Energy Resources and Electricity Demand
China’s energy resources and electricity consumption are geographically distributed in opposite patterns. Western and northern regions are rich in wind, solar and hydropower resources, while the central and eastern regions have higher concentrations of economic activity and greater electricity demand. Traditional power transmission methods are often insufficient to meet the requirements of long-distance and large-scale energy transmission.
UHV transmission technology offers an effective solution to this challenge. By developing cross-regional transmission corridors, electricity generated from wind, solar and hydropower resources in western and northern China can be delivered to major load centres in the central and eastern regions. This enables energy resources to be allocated more efficiently across a wider geographical area.
Since the commissioning of China’s first UHV transmission project in 2009, the 1000 kV Jindongnan – Nanyang – Jingmen UHV AC Demonstration Project, China has made continuous progress in UHV technology development and project construction. A nationwide UHV transmission network spanning east to west and connecting north to south has gradually taken shape.
According to relevant industry sources, China has built and commissioned a total of 46 UHV transmission corridors, providing strong support for cross-regional electricity transmission and energy supply security.
(Commissioned in 2009, the Jindongnan–Nanyang–Jingmen project was China’s first UHV AC transmission project. Featuring independently developed intellectual property rights, it was the world’s highest-voltage and most technologically advanced transmission line at the time, as well as the first 1,000 kV transmission line to enter commercial operation. Source: State Grid Corporation of China.)
UHV Transmission Supports the Large-Scale Integration of Renewable Energy
As installed wind and solar power capacity continues to expand, the intermittent and variable nature of renewable energy generation, together with its geographical distribution, is placing higher demands on the transmission capacity, flexibility and operational control of power grids.
UHV transmission corridors enable effective connections between large-scale wind and solar power bases and major electricity consumption centres, creating favourable conditions for the cross-regional utilisation of clean energy. Meanwhile, coordinated operation of UHV AC and DC networks can further strengthen interconnection and mutual support between regional power grids, enhancing the power system’s ability to respond to fluctuations in electricity demand and renewable energy output.
Looking ahead to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), the country will continue to develop cross-regional transmission corridors for green electricity. Relevant plans call for the commissioning of 15 additional UHV DC transmission corridors dedicated to green electricity, while the capacity of the West-to-East Power Transmission Program is expected to exceed 420 GW.
In the future, green electricity is expected to account for a growing share of the power transmitted through newly developed UHV corridors, providing a stronger foundation for China’s green and low-carbon energy transition.
UHV Transmission Supports the Development of the New Power Grid and a Unified National Electricity Market
The value of UHV technology extends beyond long-distance electricity transmission. It also plays a vital role in supporting the overall structure and operational capabilities of China’s new power grid.
As China continues to advance the development of a unified national electricity market, power resources need to be allocated more efficiently across broader geographical areas. The UHV transmission network strengthens connections between provinces and regions, facilitates cross-provincial and cross-regional electricity trading, including green electricity transactions, and enables regions to balance electricity supply and demand through greater resource sharing.
At the same time, the future power grid will place greater emphasis on coordinated interaction among backbone transmission networks, distribution networks and microgrids. As a key component of the backbone grid, UHV infrastructure will become increasingly integrated with intelligent dispatch systems, digital technologies and next-generation communication technologies. These developments will enhance grid flexibility, reliability and intelligence.
Conclusion
From cross-regional energy resource allocation and large-scale renewable energy integration to electricity supply security and the development of a unified national electricity market, UHV transmission is becoming an essential infrastructure component in China’s development of a new power system.
With the continued advancement of UHV projects and ongoing innovations in flexible DC transmission, intelligent grid control and power equipment technologies, the power equipment industry will encounter new opportunities for growth. DKNC will need to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities, product quality and engineering services to better meet the evolving demands of new power grid development and the global energy transition.
Sources: State Grid Corporation of China
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