switching stations; high transmission capacity;
and it is less costly than UHVDC. Although there
is no half-wavelength power transmission project
at present, the potential cost-effectiveness of UHV
half-wavelength power transmission makes it
promising for the future.
2. Selection criteria
The research and development of EHV and UHV
technologies and equipment provides a strong
foundation for the future application of
long-distance power transmission. Demand for
large-capacity, long-distance power transmission
is the main driver. Technology selection is
influenced by national conditions and trends.
Future growth in global power demand will
come mainly from non-OECD countries. India,
Brazil and other developing countries with
escalating demand need to build large power
source bases to supply electricity to load centres,
which often lie far away. UHV AC and DC is the
technology of choice.
North America and Europe are characterised
by low growth in power demand and a transition
to low-carbon and green energy. They have plans
to develop large wind power, solar energy and
clean energy bases. Advanced technologies
including MTDC, flexible AC/DC and UHVAC
could be used to construct power transmission
networks with higher voltage levels and more
flexibility, enabling renewable energy to be
connected to the grid and consumed in more
areas.
6.4.3 Current Developments
in Long-Distance Power
Transmission in China
(1) The policy environment
China’s energy sources and load centres are
separated, often thousands of kilometres apart,
making long-distance power transmission
important. China’s energy sources are abundant
in the west and north, and scarce in the east and
south. Large energy bases are located mainly in
the north, north-east, north-west and south-west
where the power load is low. The distance
between these bases and load centres in central
and east China is 1,000–3,000 km, longer than
the cost-effective distance of conventional EHV
power transmission. The size and distance of
energy flows will continue to grow, imposing
challenges on power transmission in terms of
capacity, distance and efficiency.
Long-distance power transmission is also a
means to address the severe ecological and
environmental problems caused by pollution and
haze in east and central China. It can help
improve the environment both in energy bases
and load centres, enabling high-efficiency
coal-fired power plants to be built in
coal-producing regions in the west and north.
This power can be transmitted in large volumes
over long distances to central and east China,
sharing the environmental burden more equally
across regions and easing environmental pressure
in load centres.
At the policy level, the central government
attaches great importance to the energy transition. It has introduced policies and plans to
develop long-distance power transmission and
strengthen energy security. From 2005, UHV
was included in national strategic plans, including the Outline of the National Medium- and
Long-term Science and Technology Development Program (2006–20),
60 published in 2006,
and the 12th Five-Year Plan for the National
Economic and Social Development of China,
61
issued in 2011.
The Strategic Action Plan on Energy Development (2014–20)
62 released in 2014 proposed
the clean and efficient development of coal power,
the construction of large coal power bases and
power transmission corridors and the development of long-distance and large-capacity power
60
http://www.most.gov.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/gjkjgh/
200811/t20081129_65774.htm.
61
http://www.gov.cn/2011lh/content_1825838.htm.
62
http://www.mlr.gov.cn/xwdt/jrxw/201411/t20141119_
1335668.htm.
360
S. Zifeng and N. Dickens
and it is less costly than UHVDC. Although there
is no half-wavelength power transmission project
at present, the potential cost-effectiveness of UHV
half-wavelength power transmission makes it
promising for the future.
2. Selection criteria
The research and development of EHV and UHV
technologies and equipment provides a strong
foundation for the future application of
long-distance power transmission. Demand for
large-capacity, long-distance power transmission
is the main driver. Technology selection is
influenced by national conditions and trends.
Future growth in global power demand will
come mainly from non-OECD countries. India,
Brazil and other developing countries with
escalating demand need to build large power
source bases to supply electricity to load centres,
which often lie far away. UHV AC and DC is the
technology of choice.
North America and Europe are characterised
by low growth in power demand and a transition
to low-carbon and green energy. They have plans
to develop large wind power, solar energy and
clean energy bases. Advanced technologies
including MTDC, flexible AC/DC and UHVAC
could be used to construct power transmission
networks with higher voltage levels and more
flexibility, enabling renewable energy to be
connected to the grid and consumed in more
areas.
6.4.3 Current Developments
in Long-Distance Power
Transmission in China
(1) The policy environment
China’s energy sources and load centres are
separated, often thousands of kilometres apart,
making long-distance power transmission
important. China’s energy sources are abundant
in the west and north, and scarce in the east and
south. Large energy bases are located mainly in
the north, north-east, north-west and south-west
where the power load is low. The distance
between these bases and load centres in central
and east China is 1,000–3,000 km, longer than
the cost-effective distance of conventional EHV
power transmission. The size and distance of
energy flows will continue to grow, imposing
challenges on power transmission in terms of
capacity, distance and efficiency.
Long-distance power transmission is also a
means to address the severe ecological and
environmental problems caused by pollution and
haze in east and central China. It can help
improve the environment both in energy bases
and load centres, enabling high-efficiency
coal-fired power plants to be built in
coal-producing regions in the west and north.
This power can be transmitted in large volumes
over long distances to central and east China,
sharing the environmental burden more equally
across regions and easing environmental pressure
in load centres.
At the policy level, the central government
attaches great importance to the energy transition. It has introduced policies and plans to
develop long-distance power transmission and
strengthen energy security. From 2005, UHV
was included in national strategic plans, including the Outline of the National Medium- and
Long-term Science and Technology Development Program (2006–20),
60 published in 2006,
and the 12th Five-Year Plan for the National
Economic and Social Development of China,
61
issued in 2011.
The Strategic Action Plan on Energy Development (2014–20)
62 released in 2014 proposed
the clean and efficient development of coal power,
the construction of large coal power bases and
power transmission corridors and the development of long-distance and large-capacity power
60
http://www.most.gov.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/gjkjgh/
200811/t20081129_65774.htm.
61
http://www.gov.cn/2011lh/content_1825838.htm.
62
http://www.mlr.gov.cn/xwdt/jrxw/201411/t20141119_
1335668.htm.
360
S. Zifeng and N. Dickens