OREANDA-NEWS. February 05, 2013. On the National Science and Technology Award Ceremony, "UHV AC transmission key technology, equipment and engineering application" won the National Award for S&T Progress (Special Prize), the highest award SGCC has obtained so far. It is also the highest National S&T Progress Award in China's electrotechnical area, realizing “Created by China” and “Led by China” in this field worldwide, reported the press-centre of SGCC.   

The award ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People at 10:00AM. China’s leaders Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping, Wen Jiabao, Li Keqiang, and Liu Yunshan attended the ceremony and presented the awards.

Xi Jinping presented the award to the project leader, SGCC President Liu Zhenya, and gave cordial handshakes for congratulations.

The success embodied the wisdom and efforts of President Liu Zhenya and all SGCC staff, thanks to SGCC’s great sense of responsibility to the Party, to the country and to the cause. It demonstrated our courage, diligence, independent innovation and persistence.

President Liu Zhenya personally took charge and promoted nearly 50,000 people with domestic scientific research, design, manufacturing and universities from over 100 entities including SGCC to participate in the project research, development and construction. The project combined forces and efforts to overcome difficulties and claim high honors, all of which are unprecedented.

UHV AC transmission represents the highest level in international high-voltage transmission. To research and develop this technology, we should overcome two problems. One is the world-class technology challenge between insulation and electromagnetism with high voltage and strong current. The other is the impact of harsh natural environment with heavy pollution and high altitude. Innovation is extremely difficult. The project involves the research of 180 key topics and the development of 9 categories of key equipment over 40 kinds. Combining production, learning, research and application, innovation breakthroughs have been achieved in voltage control, external insulation configuration, the electromagnetic environmental control, the development of complete sets of equipment, system integration and test capacity. The project gained 96 invention patents, mastered the core technologies of UHV AC transmission, and successfully developed a full range of key equipment.

Liu Zhenya stressed that we should accelerate the development of UHV, implement the energy development strategy of 1U4L (One Ultra and Four Large), promote the intensive development of big coal, hydropower, nuclear power and renewable energy bases to realize the optimal allocation of energy resources nationwide. It is an important strategy to change the development pattern of the energy and power industry, ensure a reliable supply of energy, and achieve a sustainable development.

Liu Zhenya said the company's largest innovation practice in the past 10 years is to develop UHV. The success of UHV represented a full range of breakthroughs in aspects from development strategy, grid technology, electrical equipment and engineering construction to operation safety. We always insist on hardworking and have overcome all difficulties from theoretical studies to engineering applications. UHV’s role and value to optimize energy allocation and to promote the socio-economic development is fully demonstrated. In the development of UHV, labor and hardships were invested; the value and significance of the grid was realized; the contribution to the country and the people was created; and worldwide respect and national dignity was gained.

1000 kV Southeast Shanxi-Nanyang-Jingmen UHV AC Demonstration Project has been completed with a 640-kilometer-long transmission line. In the 4 years’ operation, it has maintained a safe and stable operation with accumulative power transmission of 29.644TWh to Central China, replacing about 9.6 million tons of coal transportation. It greatly eased the power shortage in Central China, driving GDP growth by over 320 billion yuan. It sent hydropower of 12.281TWh to North China and reduced abandoned hydropower of 5.5TWh, saving over 4 million tons of coal and reducing over 12 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. It has been an important energy transmission channel connecting the northern and southern China.

The project also led to a comprehensive upgrade of power transmission equipment manufacturing industry in China. Since 2009, despite the international financial crisis, the export of UHV main equipment manufacturing enterprises did not fall but rise. The export of 500kV (or above) products amounted to 10 billion yuan, representing an annual growth rate of more than 40%. The performance of UHV has been a golden business card for domestic enterprises to enter the international market.

China’s influence in international electro-technology has significantly improved. Our UHV standard voltage has become the international standard. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) said that China's UHV power grid project is an important milestone in the history of the electric power industry.

SGCC EVPs Shu Yinbiao and Luan Jun participated in the award ceremony.