The Panxi Ultra-High Voltage AC Power Transmission Project, with a total investment of approximately 23.2 billion yuan, officially commenced construction on March 30. The project moved from approval to groundbreaking in just four months. As the first ultra-high voltage AC transmission and transformation project initiated by State Grid during the "16th Five-Year Plan" period, it will effectively harness the abundant clean energy resources in the Panxi region, further strengthen the foundation of the three-dimensional hub power grid, and support the development of Sichuan's new power system.
The Panxi Ultra-High Voltage AC Project passes through 12 counties in three prefectures: Liangshan, Yibin, and Leshan. It involves the construction of two new 1000-kilovolt substations in Panxi and Southern Sichuan, and the expansion of the Tianfu South 1000-kilovolt substation, with a total line length of 994 kilometers. The project is expected to be completed and operational by 2028, with a maximum annual electricity transmission capacity of about 18.2 billion kilowatt-hours. This is equivalent to replacing approximately 5.88 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 14.46 million tons annually.
Once operational, the project will connect to the previously commissioned Sichuan-Chongqing 1000-kilovolt ultra-high voltage AC project via the Tianfu South Substation. This integration will establish a robust intra-provincial "West-to-East Power Transmission" framework for Sichuan, linking the three major clean energy bases in Ganzi, Aba, and Panxi with the three major load centers in the Chengdu Plain, Southern Sichuan, and Northern Sichuan. This will significantly enhance the power grid's resource optimization capacity and its ability to withstand extreme risks.
The Panxi region is rich in hydropower and new energy resources, making it a key clean energy base in Southwest China and a critical sending end in the national "West-to-East Power Transmission" energy strategy. By the end of 2025, the installed capacity of clean energy in Panxi had exceeded 50 million kilowatts, with substantial potential for further development. The Panxi Ultra-High Voltage AC Project is a key initiative designed to eliminate energy transmission bottlenecks and facilitate the smooth flow of electricity exports.
The project traverses mountainous and canyon areas, with the highest elevation along the route exceeding 3,600 meters and a maximum ice coating thickness of 50 millimeters. It faces severe challenges, including multiple extreme weather conditions, heavy ice accumulation on lines, and dense crossovers. Construction teams will extensively employ new equipment and techniques, setting new records for ultra-high voltage projects in metrics such as the total volume of cableway installations and the number of portal towers. The project will also achieve several major technological breakthroughs. For instance, the Panxi Substation will be the first ultra-high voltage substation built at an altitude between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, fully achieving standardization and serialization of ultra-high voltage equipment. It will be the first ultra-high voltage project to utilize reinforced tension tower designs for extremely heavy ice areas, improving line disaster resilience. Additionally, it will be the first to deploy fully domestically developed secondary equipment with domestic chips, achieving a high level of technological self-reliance. Furthermore, to address geological hazards such as floods and landslides, the project will pioneer a comprehensive, intelligent monitoring and early warning system for geological disasters throughout the entire project lifecycle, enabling all-weather, comprehensive dynamic management.
As the first ultra-high voltage AC project to extend deep into the Yi ethnic region, the Panxi project also serves as major infrastructure that stimulates effective investment and promotes regional development. The construction will help the Liangshan area leverage its resource advantages for economic growth, creating employment for over ten thousand people in upstream and downstream industries, thereby synergizing power security with high-quality regional economic development.
Since the beginning of the year, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company has continued to increase investment in grid construction. It has started 21 new infrastructure projects, including the Panxi Ultra-High Voltage AC Project, and commissioned 35 projects such as the Fule Expansion and Meishan Renshou Reinforcement. The company has completed over 5 billion yuan in grid construction investment, accelerating the establishment of a new power system and a new energy system to support Sichuan's goal of becoming a clean energy powerhouse.
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