UHV technology has completely reversed the long-standing passive situation of China’s power industry following the development of Western developed countries. It has given birth to Chinese standards, achieving Chinese innovation and Chinese leadership. A number of professional ultra-high voltage glass insulators manufacturers have also emerged. They have provided high-quality electrical glass insulators to power systems all over the world.
UHV power transmission technology has resolved the challenge of cross-regional long-distance electricity transmission in China, creating conditions for the large-scale development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower in the western regions. It stands as a landmark achievement in China’s energy revolution and a major breakthrough in the development of China’s advanced productive forces.
Against the backdrop of continuously rising electricity demand, China’s energy structure remains unbalanced. The pattern of abundant coal, scarce oil, and limited gas not only leads to low energy utilization efficiency but also increases environmental pressures. Industry analysts suggest that changing this situation requires efforts in at least two aspects: first, promoting the efficient and clean utilization of coal to reduce environmental pressure in central and eastern regions; second, increasing the proportion of clean energy sources such as hydropower, wind power, and solar power.
Currently and for the foreseeable future, coal-fired power will remain China’s primary source of electricity. However, more than half of the country’s coal-fired power capacity is concentrated in the eastern regions, where there is insufficient land resources and remaining environmental capacity to support large-scale construction of new coal-fired power plants. Given that over 70% of China’s proven coal reserves are distributed in regions such as Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang, future new coal-fired power plants will increasingly be located in the western and northern regions, which have relatively larger environmental capacities. This move can not only alleviate environmental pressure in the eastern regions but also enable intensive and efficient coal development and centralized pollution control in coal power bases, thereby reducing pollutant emissions.
At the same time, the proportion of clean energy in China’s energy consumption will gradually increase. It is projected that by 2050, clean electricity generation will account for nearly 50% of China’s total electricity generation. However, over 80% of China’s hydropower potential is distributed in western regions such as Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet, while wind and solar power are also highly localized and can only be developed in resource-rich areas. Therefore, the vigorous development of clean energy will also drive the shift of new power capacity to the western and northern regions.
In stark contrast to the concentration of energy resources in the western and northern regions, two-thirds of China’s energy demand is concentrated in the eastern and central regions. The reverse distribution of energy resources and energy consumption centers, separated by vast distances, necessitates large-scale energy allocation and long-distance power transmission—areas where ultra-high voltage (UHV) power grids excel.
China’s achievements in UHV technology breakthroughs and engineering construction have also gained recognition from the international community. Numerous authoritative international institutions have highly evaluated UHV power transmission technology, widely regarding it as one of the most important development trends in modern power grids and a significant milestone in the history of the power industry. It is seen as a powerful solution to future energy crises.
The global imbalance between energy supply and demand objectively requires cross-continental and broader resource optimization. As the international community increasingly focuses on ecological environment and climate change issues, countries are continuously raising environmental and emission standards for energy development and striving to achieve cleaner energy production. The construction of transnational and transcontinental energy transmission and grid interconnections based on UHV technology is a safe, economical, efficient, and mature strategic choice. It represents a long-term solution for optimizing resource allocation on a global scale and addressing energy challenges.
Currently, countries such as Russia, India, and Brazil are prioritizing UHV power transmission as a key direction for their energy and power development and are actively seeking technical cooperation with China.
China’s UHV direct current (DC) transmission technology successfully went global with its application in the Belo Monte UHV DC power transmission project in Brazil. This project not only addresses the mismatch between power sources and load demand in Brazil, meeting the electricity needs of nearly 22 million people, but also drives the upgrading of local upstream and downstream industries, including power generation, electrical equipment, and raw materials, providing strong support for revitalizing the Brazilian economy.
This project achieved the comprehensive global expansion of China’s UHV DC transmission technology, standards, and equipment. It provided mature experience and reference for subsequent overseas DC projects, demonstrated the potential for China’s UHV technology to serve the international market, and became another new advantage for Chinese enterprises going global.
China has taken the lead in mastering the core technology of UHV power transmission worldwide, and the UHV standards established by China have become international standards. UHV technology represents a significant transformation in global energy transmission. Like China’s high-speed rail and aerospace technologies, it is a major contribution to the world’s industrial development. It heralds a new era of global energy transformation and will vigorously promote changes in energy production and consumption worldwide.
