Ningxia unveils landmark 330kV substation, largely boosts new energy development

A landmark achievement has been realized in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region with nearing completion and commissioning of Yunhai 330kV substation recently. Once getting operational, it will enhance the distribution grid's load-bearing capacity, paving the way for local high-quality new energy development.

On June 19, as the Yunhai 330kV substation entered into the final stage of acceptance and debugging, its developer, State Grid Ningdong Electric Power Supply Company announced it to be expectedly completed by the end of June.

With its completion, it will further optimize the local grid structure, enhance the main grid's power supply capacity and operational safety, and boost the low-carbon green development of Ningxia. The project, with a total investment of about 437 million yuan, includes the construction of two 360MVA transformers, two 330kV incoming lines, two 330kV outgoing lines, and ten 110kV outgoing lines. Once operational, the substation will effectively relieve the uploading pressure, facilitate the local consumption of new energy, and meet the local economic development's demand for electric power.Ningdong Base, where the project was developed, is located in a prime solar radiation area of China, receiving over 3,000 hours of sunlight annually, with a sunlight percentage of 64 percent and annual radiation around 6000 MJ/m². It has rich solar resources. Additionally, nearly 500 square kilometers of the base's 885 square kilometer core area are covered by coal seams, which are not suitable for industrial projects but can accommodate distributed photovoltaic systems. Developing photovoltaics not only lowers electricity production costs but also effectively utilizes land resources.