The Panxi ultra-high voltage (UHV) project, representing 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 UHV alternating current (AC) power transmission and transformation project initiated by the State Grid during the "16th Five-Year Plan" period, this project will effectively unlock the abundant clean energy resources in the Panxi region. It will further solidify the foundation of a robust, multi-dimensional power grid hub, ensuring secure and reliable electricity supply. The project supports the development of Sichuan's new-type power system, promotes high-quality development in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and injects strong momentum for a successful start to the "16th Five-Year Plan" period.
The Tianfu South 1000-kilovolt UHV substation, scheduled to be operational in 2025, will be expanded as part of the newly launched Panxi UHV AC project. The Panxi UHV project traverses 12 counties (districts) across three prefectures (cities): Liangshan, Yibin, and Leshan. It involves the construction of two new 1000-kilovolt substations, Panxi and ChuanNan, and the expansion of the existing Tianfu South 1000-kilovolt substation. The total length of the transmission lines is 994 kilometers. The project is expected to be completed and operational by 2028. At full capacity, it will be able to transmit up to approximately 18.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to replacing about 5.88 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 14.46 million tons.
The Panxi region is rich in hydropower and new energy resources, making it a significant clean energy base in Southwest China and a crucial sending end for the national "West-to-East Power Transmission" strategy. By the end of 2025, the installed clean energy capacity in the Panxi region had already exceeded 50 million kilowatts, with substantial potential for further development. The demand for transmitting this power out of the region continues to grow. The Panxi UHV project is a key initiative designed to remove bottlenecks in energy transmission and open up a major artery for power delivery. Once operational, it will significantly enhance the capacity to transmit clean energy from Panxi directly to the load centers of the Chengdu Plain and Southern Sichuan, effectively meeting the surging electricity demand driven by robust industrial development in these regions.
After commissioning, the project will be connected via the Tianfu South substation to the previously operational Sichuan-Chongqing 1000-kilovolt UHV AC project. This integration will enable Sichuan to establish a robust intra-provincial "West-to-East Power Transmission" pattern characterized by "three sending points and three receiving points," 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 capability to optimize resource allocation and withstand extreme risks.
The project route passes through geologically complex and remote high mountain and canyon areas, with the highest elevation along the line exceeding 3,600 meters and maximum ice coating thickness reaching 50 millimeters. It faces severe challenges including multiple extreme weather conditions, heavy ice loads on lines, and dense network of crossings. Construction teams will extensively employ new equipment and construction techniques, setting new records for UHV projects in metrics such as the total volume of cableway installation and the number of portal towers used.
The project will also achieve several major technological breakthroughs. For instance, the Panxi substation will be the first UHV substation built at an altitude between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, fully implementing standardized and serialized UHV equipment. It will be the first UHV project to utilize a reinforced tension tower design for extra-heavy ice areas, enhancing the line's disaster resilience. It will also pioneer the comprehensive use of domestically developed core secondary equipment in the UHV sector, achieving a high level of technological self-reliance. Furthermore, to address geological hazards such as floods and landslides, the project will implement, for the first time in a UHV project, an intelligent monitoring and early warning system for geological disasters throughout the entire project lifecycle, enabling all-weather, comprehensive dynamic control.
As the first UHV AC project to penetrate deep into the heart of the Yi ethnic region, the Panxi UHV project is also a major infrastructure initiative that stimulates effective investment and drives regional development. It will help transform Liangshan's resource endowment into an economic advantage, creating employment for over ten thousand people in upstream and downstream industries, thereby achieving synergistic progress between secure power supply and high-quality regional economic development.
Since the beginning of this year, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company has continued to intensify investment in grid construction. It has already commenced construction on 21 new infrastructure projects, including the Panxi UHV project, and has put 35 projects into operation, such as the Fule expansion and the Meishan Renshou strengthening project. The company has completed over 5 billion yuan in grid construction investment, accelerating the establishment of a new-type power system and a new energy system, thereby supporting the development of Sichuan as a clean energy powerhouse.
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