China recently began construction on what will be the highest capacity power line ever built. The 2,210km line will transmit approximately 800kV. The line will transmit power from generation facilities, including wind and solar, in the West, to power hungry areas in the East.
The line will be an ultra high voltage DC line, a technology which I have discussed in the past. Questions remain about the feasibility of such a high voltage project though, and there have already been regulatory delays slowing construction. Innovative projects like this one should help to make this technology more mainstream, which will lead to more efficient energy transmission.
Links
China building power transmission line of world’s largest capacity (China Daily)
China starts vital UHV lines to carry wind power from its west (Recharge)
Ben Koopferstock
Chris McDonald
Jeff Wieand
Sam Petsonk
Anthony Raucci
Kat Statman
