Ultra-high voltage: the highlight of "new infrastructure"

On March 4, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting, emphasizing the need to accelerate the construction of major projects and infrastructure that have been clearly defined in the national plan, and to speed up the construction of new infrastructure such as 5G networks and data centers.

Previously, the central government mentioned "new infrastructure" four times in 20 days, including the State Council executive meeting on January 3, the 12th meeting of the Central Committee for Comprehensively Deepening Reform on February 14, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee meeting on February 21, and the meeting on coordinating the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and economic and social development on February 23. "New infrastructure" has become a hot topic and has received high attention and widespread concern from all walks of life.

On March 11, State Grid Corporation of China made a clear statement that it would resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, give full play to the driving force of the UHV industry, and accelerate the construction of new infrastructure. At a critical moment, the company regards UHV as the highlight of "new infrastructure", plays the role of "a major weapon" and "the backbone", demonstrates the responsibility of central enterprises, and fully serves the economic and social development.

What is “New Infrastructure”?

If the traditional railways, roads, airports, and water conservancy projects are the 1.0 version of infrastructure, then the construction of new infrastructure such as 5G networks and data centers is the 2.0 version of infrastructure. From the information available, the new infrastructure focuses on the technology side, with a clear technical background.

"But the scope is not limited to this. As long as it serves the new economy and digital economy and can meet new demands, it can be classified as new infrastructure." An expert in the field of economics said in an interview with reporters, "The areas that make up for shortcomings in the traditional infrastructure field, or some emerging sub-industries, are also within the scope of new infrastructure. For example, cold chain logistics in the transportation field, especially e-commerce; for example, public health and telemedicine in the field of people's livelihood infrastructure, ultra-high voltage and electric vehicle charging piles in the energy industry, etc."

The media has similar interpretations. Earlier, CCTV's "China News" column reported that "new infrastructure" is infrastructure construction focused on the technology side, mainly including 5G base station construction, ultra-high voltage, intercity high-speed railways and intercity rail transit, new energy vehicle charging piles, big data centers, artificial intelligence and industrial Internet.

Not only does the “new infrastructure” involve new areas, it also has new goals and tasks.

In the past, traditional infrastructure construction was mostly based on the reality of my country's unbalanced and insufficient development. A recent report by the "Guanghua Thought Power" macroeconomic forecasting research team of Peking University Guanghua School of Management believes that now, new infrastructure is mainly centered on industrial transformation and industrial Internet, which will effectively improve my country's total factor productivity.

"With the development of the economy, all aspects are being optimized and advanced. 'New infrastructure' is the endogenous demand for the transformation of new and old driving forces of my country's industrial economy. In the past, it was always said that 'if you want to be rich, build roads first'. Today, with the deepening of globalization and the gradual retreat of low value-added industries, 'new infrastructure' is the road to be built." A professional from the investment banking department of Yingda Securities told reporters that the new infrastructure focuses more on a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Its purpose is to drive economic growth, fully serve the "six stability" and do basic homework for the country to participate in global industrial and technological competition and promote the industrialization and application of new technologies.

Why UHV takes the lead

At present, the spread of the epidemic has been basically curbed, and the prevention and control situation is gradually improving. How to effectively respond to the impact of the epidemic on the economy and society is a major issue at present.

Experts believe that due to the impact of the epidemic, the role of consumption and exports in driving the national economy has been suppressed to a certain extent. New infrastructure investment, led by UHV, is a more direct and faster tool for stabilizing growth.

On February 28, the construction of the Shaanxi-Hubei ±800 kV UHV DC project started, which attracted great attention from the society. This is a major project for the company to coordinate the promotion of epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, to restore construction, and to promote the resumption of work and production of enterprises. It is of great significance to boost the confidence of Hubei's economic and social development and "recover" the Chinese economy.

"The State Grid's increased investment in power infrastructure will fully boost the resumption of work in various industries, especially the manufacturing industry, and help the economy 'restart' and return to normal track." Yu Miaojie, Party Secretary and Vice President of the National School of Development at Peking University, commented that State Grid Corporation of China, as a super large central enterprise, has played a very good vanguard role and deserves high recognition.

As one of the seven major areas of "new infrastructure", ultra-high voltage can not only effectively respond to the impact of the epidemic on the economy in the short term, but also indicate the main direction of economic and social development and industrial quality improvement and revitalization.

从宏观看，特高压工程投资规模大、经济效益好，能显著增加就业，在稳增长、惠民生方面动力十足，具备强大的“压舱石”“助推器”作用。从产业链来看，特高压工程上下游产业链长，电源、电工装备、用能设备、原材料等环环相扣，带动力极强，经济社会效益明显。

Taking the Qinghai-Henan ±800 kV UHV DC transmission project as an example, the supporting power source exceeds 23 million kilowatts, which will increase the output value of the power transmission and transformation equipment manufacturing industry by about 14.8 billion yuan, directly drive investment in power sources and other related industries by more than 200 billion yuan, and create more than 7,000 jobs.

In the longer term, UHV's role in promoting economic and social development goes far beyond the construction period. Due to its obvious medium- and long-term benefits, UHV projects are a model of high-quality development and an important support for sustainable economic and social development, helping to unleash economic growth potential and enhance long-term competitiveness.

Data shows that the company's annual UHV construction projects have a clear investment scale of 112.8 billion yuan, which can drive social investment of 223.5 billion yuan, with an overall scale of nearly 500 billion yuan. The company resolutely shoulders the responsibility of being the "pillar" and injects a "boost" into economic and social development with practical actions.

Taking the path of high-quality development

The company has been working with various parties to continuously make progress in UHV theory, technology, standards, equipment, engineering construction, and operation, and has achieved comprehensive innovation breakthroughs. It has mastered UHV transmission technology with independent intellectual property rights, and has promoted the design, manufacturing, construction, and operation of power transmission and transformation to a new level. It has also exported UHV-related technologies and equipment overseas, achieving "Chinese creation" and "Chinese leadership" in the field of world power transmission technology. UHV has become a world-renowned "golden business card."

The ultra-high voltage power grid has been optimized and upgraded all the way, moving towards higher voltage levels, wider coverage and greater transmission capacity.

At present, the "11 cross and 10 straight" UHV projects have been completed in the State Grid's operating area. These transmission "arteries" cross mountains and rivers, crisscrossing the land of China, effectively ensuring safe and reliable electricity for production and life across the country. The State Grid has also become the world's largest power grid with the strongest transmission capacity, the largest scale of new energy grid connection, and the longest record of safe operation, providing strong support for economic and social development.

Driving national economic growth and fully serving the "six stability" is only one of the "advantages" of UHV projects. At present, behind the efficient and orderly operation of society, UHV projects are playing a more important role.

高效优化配置资源，跨省跨区联网保障电力供给。党的十八大以来，特高压工程建设加速，全国电力联网进一步加强。哈郑直流、宾金直流、宁浙直流、锡泰直流、扎青直流等一批重点工程投产，我国逐渐形成大规模西电东送、北电南送的能源配置格局，能源资源得到优化配置，跨省跨区输电能力显著提升。

Promote the transformation and upgrading of energy structure and promote high-quality development. The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system. The UHV AC and DC projects of the National Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan have been fully completed. The transmission artery running through the hinterland of my country has continuously transmitted green electricity converted from clean energy in the west to the load centers in the eastern and central regions. The UHV power grid has solved the problems of large-scale power transmission and new energy consumption with its advantages of cross-regional, long-distance and large-capacity transmission, and has become an effective measure to optimize the power supply structure.