with surrounding countries. Interconnected
infrastructure is a priority of the BRI. Countries
taking part in the BRI, with their sovereignty and
security concerns respected, can build an infrastructure network connecting Asia, Europe and
Africa. By planning infrastructure construction
and aligning technical standards, BRI strengthens
cooperation between countries and promotes the
construction of cross-border power transmission
corridors.
With
large-capacity,
low-loss
long-distance power transmission technologies,
China can build a corridor that interconnects grid
infrastructure across Asia-Pacific. Given the
resource endowment differences and strong
energy complementarity of the countries of the
Silk Road Economic Belt (a component of BRI
that applies to countries along the original Silk
Road between China and Europe), China can
import surplus power from neighbours through
long-distance power transmission, stimulating
economic development in those countries and
securing power for China at lower cost.
(2) Policy proposals
First, the intensive development of large-scale
renewable energy bases should drive research on
UHV and other new long-distance power transmission technologies. These wind, hydro and
solar power bases require grid connection and
super-large capacity and ultra-long distance
transmission systems, both within China and
across neighbouring national borders. These
technologies require further research and development, especially in UHV AC and DC and in
new
transmission
technologies
like
half-wavelength, superconducting, wireless and
pipeline.
Second, China should expand research on
UHV grid control and simulation to minimise the
risk of cascading power outages. Currently UHV
power transmission technologies are faced with
three major challenges to grid reliability: (i) the
wider application of power electronics increases
the possibility of cascading outages and makes
grid stabilisation more complex and simulation
analysis more difficult; (ii) an outage can have a
greater impact on interconnected grids, and
power fluctuations can increase the risk of a
grid-wide outage; and (iii) poor voltage stability
at the receiving end can increase if large changes
are made to the power source mix. China therefore needs to increase its research on UHV power
grids in areas such as simulation analysis, grid
analysis, voltage stability and grid control.
Third, China should consolidate UHV’s Go
Out advantage. China needs to maintain its
international leadership in DC transmission
technologies, strengthen UHV’s going-global
advantage, build a world-class brand characterised by Made in China 2025 and Lead by
China, increase the influence of Chinese businesses in target markets, thus laying a solid
foundation for the export of China’s UHVAC
power transmission technologies and equipment.
Fourth, China should evaluate the economic
and social benefits of long-distance power
transmission in a comprehensive, scientific and
systematic way. UHV power networks are characterised by high safety risks, heavy investment
and large scale. They should be assessed
according to their input-output ratio and in relation to their economic and social benefits and
safety.
Fifth, China should strengthen early-stage
planning and demonstration of UHV projects.
UHV has helped China become a world leader in
power transmission. However, UHV projects are
a long process requiring precise and scientific
preliminary studies. Project execution usually
takes 5–8 years or even longer. The projects
often run through many provinces and over long
distances, resulting in much cross-provincial
coordination work and high safety risks.
Research institutes need to be engaged at each
stage of the planning process. Targets and
schedules should be adjusted dynamically as
conditions change during the planning period.
6.5 Nuclear Power
The next 10 years will be a watershed for nuclear
power development. Between the first oil crisis in
1973 and the Three Mile Island nuclear accident
in the USA in 1979, around 170 units were built
366
S. Zifeng and N. Dickens
infrastructure is a priority of the BRI. Countries
taking part in the BRI, with their sovereignty and
security concerns respected, can build an infrastructure network connecting Asia, Europe and
Africa. By planning infrastructure construction
and aligning technical standards, BRI strengthens
cooperation between countries and promotes the
construction of cross-border power transmission
corridors.
With
large-capacity,
low-loss
long-distance power transmission technologies,
China can build a corridor that interconnects grid
infrastructure across Asia-Pacific. Given the
resource endowment differences and strong
energy complementarity of the countries of the
Silk Road Economic Belt (a component of BRI
that applies to countries along the original Silk
Road between China and Europe), China can
import surplus power from neighbours through
long-distance power transmission, stimulating
economic development in those countries and
securing power for China at lower cost.
(2) Policy proposals
First, the intensive development of large-scale
renewable energy bases should drive research on
UHV and other new long-distance power transmission technologies. These wind, hydro and
solar power bases require grid connection and
super-large capacity and ultra-long distance
transmission systems, both within China and
across neighbouring national borders. These
technologies require further research and development, especially in UHV AC and DC and in
new
transmission
technologies
like
half-wavelength, superconducting, wireless and
pipeline.
Second, China should expand research on
UHV grid control and simulation to minimise the
risk of cascading power outages. Currently UHV
power transmission technologies are faced with
three major challenges to grid reliability: (i) the
wider application of power electronics increases
the possibility of cascading outages and makes
grid stabilisation more complex and simulation
analysis more difficult; (ii) an outage can have a
greater impact on interconnected grids, and
power fluctuations can increase the risk of a
grid-wide outage; and (iii) poor voltage stability
at the receiving end can increase if large changes
are made to the power source mix. China therefore needs to increase its research on UHV power
grids in areas such as simulation analysis, grid
analysis, voltage stability and grid control.
Third, China should consolidate UHV’s Go
Out advantage. China needs to maintain its
international leadership in DC transmission
technologies, strengthen UHV’s going-global
advantage, build a world-class brand characterised by Made in China 2025 and Lead by
China, increase the influence of Chinese businesses in target markets, thus laying a solid
foundation for the export of China’s UHVAC
power transmission technologies and equipment.
Fourth, China should evaluate the economic
and social benefits of long-distance power
transmission in a comprehensive, scientific and
systematic way. UHV power networks are characterised by high safety risks, heavy investment
and large scale. They should be assessed
according to their input-output ratio and in relation to their economic and social benefits and
safety.
Fifth, China should strengthen early-stage
planning and demonstration of UHV projects.
UHV has helped China become a world leader in
power transmission. However, UHV projects are
a long process requiring precise and scientific
preliminary studies. Project execution usually
takes 5–8 years or even longer. The projects
often run through many provinces and over long
distances, resulting in much cross-provincial
coordination work and high safety risks.
Research institutes need to be engaged at each
stage of the planning process. Targets and
schedules should be adjusted dynamically as
conditions change during the planning period.
6.5 Nuclear Power
The next 10 years will be a watershed for nuclear
power development. Between the first oil crisis in
1973 and the Three Mile Island nuclear accident
in the USA in 1979, around 170 units were built
366
S. Zifeng and N. Dickens