Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Xinjiang boasts powerful energy resources and, through the "Xinjiang Electricity Transmission" project, makes significant contributions to the country’s economic development and energy security.

The Power of Energy Transmission

Xinjiang is rich in energy resources, with substantial reserves of coal, solar, and wind energy. The region ranks second in the country for wind energy resources and coal reserves, while its solar energy potential accounts for 40% of the technically available resources nationwide, establishing Xinjiang as a leader in this regard. With such excellent conditions, Xinjiang has bright prospects for developing its energy sector.

The east-west electricity transmission has become a vital means of balancing electricity supply and demand in central and eastern regions while facilitating coordinated economic development. The implementation of the "Xinjiang Electricity Transmission" project is crucial for the intensive development of Xinjiang’s energy base and converting its resource advantages into economic benefits.

Currently, Xinjiang has built four power export lines, with the "Xinjiang Electricity Transmission" capacity reaching 25 million kilowatts. The area of export has expanded from the initial seven provinces to twenty, and the volume of electricity supplied has increased from 300 million kilowatt-hours in 2010 to 126.2 billion kilowatt-hours in 2023. From 2018 to 2023, the volume of electricity transmitted from Xinjiang and from renewable sources grew by an average of 20% and 18% per year, respectively. Since 2020, the volume of electricity transmission has exceeded 1 trillion kilowatt-hours for four consecutive years.

Since the project’s inception in 2010, as of August this year, Xinjiang has supplied 826.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to 20 provinces and municipalities across China. This electricity can power 1.4 billion people for 256 days.

Construction Projects Show Results

In November 2010, the first 750 kV electrical network connection channel between Xinjiang and the Northwest grid was completed and put into operation, ending the isolated operation of Xinjiang’s power grid. In June 2013, the second channel was commissioned, increasing the electricity transmission capacity from Xinjiang by 3 million kilowatts.

Since its launch in 2014, the ±800 kV high-voltage transmission line from Hami to Nanchang has delivered nearly 400 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to Henan Province over ten years, accounting for nearly 50% of the total electricity supply. Based on an annual electricity consumption of 2,500 kilowatt-hours per household, this electricity could meet the energy needs of more than 147 million families for over a year.

The ±1100 kV ultra-high-voltage direct current transmission project from Changji to Guqyuang was put into operation in 2019. It is the largest project in the world for electricity transmission, boasting the highest voltage level, longest transmission distance, and greatest capacity. In 2021, external supplies reached 55 billion kilowatt-hours, 63.2 billion kilowatt-hours in 2022, and 62 billion kilowatt-hours in 2023. For three consecutive years, external supplies have ranked first among all ultra-high-voltage transmission projects in the country.

As of August 6, 2024, the total external electricity supply from the Guqyuang project has reached 287.247 billion kilowatt-hours. This year, the external supply volume has reached 38.789 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to the daily transmission of 70,000 tons of standard coal.

Ongoing and Planned Projects Provide Strength

In August 2023, construction began on the ±800 kV high-voltage direct current transmission line from Hami to Chongqing, which will become the fifth channel for power supply from Xinjiang. The foundation work for the project in Xinjiang has been fully completed, wire deployment has started, and the installation of reinforced concrete supports is over 60% complete. The Xinjiang section is expected to be fully ready by the end of the year.

Once operational, the project will be able to supply more than 36 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to Chongqing annually. The export capacity of electricity from Xinjiang will increase to 33 million kilowatts after commissioning, with the share of clean energy in the total export volume rising from nearly 30% to 50%.

Xinjiang is set to become the largest new energy export base in the country. The "Xinjiang Electricity Transmission" project serves as a significant link in the energy sector, connecting Xinjiang with provinces and cities across the nation. In the future, Xinjiang will continue to leverage its energy advantages and contribute even more to the country’s energy security and economic development.