Jinshang-Hubei

Overview

The Jinshang–Hubei UHVDC (Ultra-High-Voltage Direct Current) transmission project is the highest-altitude UHVDC power line in the world, with parts of its route running at elevations above 4,700 meters. The line plays a critical role in China’s “West-to-East Power Transmission” initiative, which aims to deliver renewable energy generated in the resource-abundant western regions—particularly Tibet and Sichuan—to the energy-intensive central and eastern provinces. Specifically, the Jinshang–Hubei project transmits electricity from the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, rich in hydropower potential, to Hubei Province in central China.

Technical Specifications

Technically, the project is a ±800 kilovolt UHVDC line with a design transmission capacity of 8,000 megawatts (8 GW). It covers a total distance of about 1,901 kilometers and passes through four administrative regions: Tibet (Xizang), Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei. The system is capable of transmitting approximately 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually—an amount that meets about one-sixth of Hubei’s total annual electricity consumption. This clean power delivery is equivalent to reducing the consumption of more than 17 million tons of coal and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by around 34 million tons each year.

High-Altitude Engineering and Construction Challenges

One of the notable features of the Jinshang–Hubei project is its high-altitude design. The line includes towers built in extremely rugged and remote mountainous areas, with the tallest tower—standing 65 meters tall and weighing 85 tons—located on Setongma Mountain in Batang County, Sichuan Province, at an elevation of 4,797.9 meters. This set a new global altitude record for UHVDC power lines. The terrain presented enormous challenges, including steep mountain slopes (some exceeding 40%), high forest coverage, unstable geological conditions, and limited access.

To address these difficulties, engineers developed innovative construction techniques, such as mountain rail vehicles for equipment delivery and centralized hydraulic control systems to install conductors on steep declines safely and efficiently. These innovations not only improved safety and logistics but also minimized environmental disruption in fragile alpine ecosystems.

Converter Stations

The system features a multi-terminal cascade design, a cutting-edge development in UHVDC technology pioneered in China. Three converter stations are located at Kamai in Tibet (altitude ~3,720 meters), Bangguo in Sichuan, and Daye in Hubei. The sending end adopts a series connection of LV and HV converter, which means that Kamai is a ±400 kV and 4000 MW converter station, Bangguo is a ±800 kV and 4000 MW converter station. There is a 117 km long ±400 kV DC transmission line between Kamai and Bangguo. The ±800 kV DC transmission line from Bangguo to Daye is 1926 km. The receiving station (Daye) is a ±800 kV and 8000 MW converter station. The receiving station in Daye is integrated into China’s ultra-high voltage AC grid in central China, allowing efficient distribution of power to Hubei and surrounding provinces.

The project is built in coordination with newly built pumped storage hydroelectric plants, including the 1.4 GW Tongshan plant, which helps balance intermittent power and manage peak loads

Environmental and Decarbonization Impact

The Jinshang–Hubei project transmits large volumes of renewable electricity generated from hydropower, wind, and solar energy sources, significantly reducing the requirement for coal-fired power generation. This makes it a major contributor to national goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.

The line enhances the power system's flexibility and stability, ensuring that clean energy can be delivered efficiently across thousands of kilometers to where it's needed most, even across challenging and remote terrain. It also helps balance generation and consumption on a regional scale, which is crucial as China continues to increase its share of renewable power generation.

Project Timeline

Construction of the Jinshang–Hubei UHVDC line began in February 2023 and was completed in May 2025. The total investment in the project was approximately 42.7 billion yuan, or around 6.2 billion US dollars. It is China’s first cross-regional, high-capacity DC transmission project built entirely to transport clean energy, rather than supplementing conventional thermal power sources.