Earlier updates from the Jiuquan-Shaoshan ±800 kV UHVDC project reported the start and successful completion of the low-level converter tests including black start capabilities, protection settings and protection co-ordination among the comprehensive set of more than 640 tests that are necessary before the final commissioning of the UHVDC station.
According to the latest reports, the ±800 kV UHVDC system successfully completed the 168-hour (one-week) continuous operation test with all features reaching the expected standards. This would be the last test for the system before coming fully online and in service.
This project, starting at Qilian converter station in Jiuquan at the northwestern province of Gansu and terminating at the Shaoshan converter station, in Xiangtan, Hunan, covers a total transmission distance of 2384 km with a converter capacity that reaches 8000 MW.
The UHVDC link is one of the many transferring wind and other renewable energy from the northwest part of China, the load centers in the central and eastern provinces of China. At full operation, the annual expected energy from the HVDC system to Hunan is expected to reach 40 TWh, equalling the output of six coal-fired power plants around the capital city of Changsa, and meet almost 25% of the electricity demand in the whole of Hunan province.
The timetable of the project so far is:
• Authorisation and approval on May 2015.
• Construction commenced on 3rd of September 2015.
• Completion of towers and transmission lines on 24th of November 2016.
• Completion of converter stations on 21st of December 2016.
• Completion of the low level bipolar UHVDC tests completed on March 2017.
• Completion of the high level bipolar UHVDC tests completed on 20th April 2017.
• Completion of the 168-hour continuous operation on 28th May 2017
