2017年CRI China's major ultra-high voltage transmission lines in smooth operation

 

China has long depended on coal-burning power plants to fuel its explosive growth over the past three decades. As a result, air pollution has risen to alarming levels in central and eastern regions.

Policymakers have been working hard to shift the country's energy profile to greener cleaner technology.

Just one problem – that energy is mainly generated in Western regions.The answer has been the creation of ultra-high voltage power lines.

A part of the ultra-high voltage transmission line in Inner Mongolia [Photo: baidu.com]

Ultra-high voltage or UHV is defined as voltage of 1,000 kilovolts or above in alternating current and 800 kilovolts or above in direct current.

Currently there are about 30,000 kilometers of ultra-high voltage power transmission lines under construction and in operation in China.

The lines can deliver large quantities of power over long distances with less power loss than the more commonly used 500-kilovolt lines.

The newly built 2,383-kilometer long ultra-high-voltage transmission line connecting Jiuquan city, in northwest China's Gansu Province with central China's Hunan Province is a symbol of China's leading role in the clean energy revolution.

The transmission line, possibly the world's longest power transmission artery¹, can transfer clean energy generated by solar and wind in Gansu directly to Hunan.

A technician examines transmission line on the Huainan-Nanjing-Shanghai Ultra-high voltage (UHV) Transmission Line Project in Huai'an, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 27, 2015. The Huainan-Nanjing-Shanghai UHV Transmission Line Project, which has a length of 759 kilometers and spans east China's Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, is expected to come into stream in 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

Deng Qinghong is the deputy director of the construction department of State Grid² Hunan Electric Power Company.

"This ultra-high-voltage transmission line can transfer 40 billion kilowatt-hours of power to Hunan each year, meeting one fourth of the total power demand in the province. This power can also benefit other central China provinces through the central China power grid," Deng said.

With more clean energy available, Hunan is beginning to wave goodbye to the era of coal burning as part of the industrial cycle.

A foundry industrial park in Chenzhou city of Hunan has been replacing all its coal-fired boilers³ with electric ones. A total of 1.59 million tons of coal will eventually be saved in this way.

Huang Qili is with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"With the world's largest power transmission capacity and longest transmission route, this ultra-high-voltage transmission line has practical significance for the world's clean energy transmission and China is playing a leading role in the field," Huang noted⁴.

A technician examines transmission line on the Huainan-Nanjing-Shanghai Ultra-high voltage (UHV) Transmission Line Project in Huai'an, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 27, 2015. The Huainan-Nanjing-Shanghai UHV Transmission Line Project, which has a length of 759 kilometers and spans east China's Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, is expected to come into stream in 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

Brought on stream in 2014, the 1,680-kilometer-long ultra-high-voltage transmission line sees clean power carried from Xiluodu Hydropower Station in southwest China to east China's Zhejiang Province around the clock.

During the peak summer season, it contributes up to 17 percent of Zhejiang's power, saving more than 30 million tonnes of coal and helping⁵ reduce about 85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions⁶.

Such super-efficient power transmission lines are not only helping to rejuvenate⁷ China's industry and environment, but have proved China's position as a world leader in the technology that is vital to meeting the challenge of climate change.

The State Grid Corporation of China, the world's largest utility company, has already signed a deal on an ultra high-voltage electricity transmission project in Latin America.

The 2,500-kilometer power line in Brazil will link the world's third-biggest hydroelectric dam to the country's largest market.

The first phase of the Belo Monte UHV DC Transmission Project is expected to start commercial operations by February 2018.

1 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

2 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

3 boilers   

锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even then the boilers often burst or came apart at the seams. 甚至那时的锅炉也经常从焊接处爆炸或裂开。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The clean coal is sent to a crusher and the boilers. 干净的煤送入破碎机和锅炉。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

7 rejuvenate   

v.(使)返老还童；(使)恢复活力

参考例句：

• The mountain air will rejuvenate you.山里的空气会使你恢复活力。
• Exercise is perhaps the most effective way to rejuvenate your skin.锻炼可能是使皮肤恢复活力的最好手段。