The Sichuan-Chongqing 1,000 kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) alternating current project has transmitted more than 60 TWh of clean electricity to load centers in the region, State Grid said.

As of September 15, the cumulative volume reached 60.06 TWh, according to State Grid.

The project, which began operation in December 2024, is a key part of China's 14th "Five-Year Plan" for power development and the country's first high-altitude UHV AC project. It starts in Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan and runs 1,316 km through eight cities and districts including Ya'an in Sichuan and Tongliang in Chongqing.

The project raised the main grid voltage in southwestern China from 500 kV to 1,000 kV, delivering abundant clean energy from western Sichuan to Chengdu, Chongqing and other areas.

It can transmit 35 TWh of clean electricity annually to Sichuan-Chongqing load centers, equivalent to the annual power consumption of nearly 10 million households. It ensures power supply to load centers and improves grid interconnection while meeting the need to export clean energy from western Sichuan.

Since the start of summer this year, the project has transmitted more than 7 TWh of electricity.

The EHV branch of State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Co., Ltd. has built a refined operation and maintenance system at three UHV substations in Ganzi, Tianfu South and Chengdu East to ensure safe and stable operation.

In response to frequent earthquakes, heavy rainfall and wildfires in western Sichuan, the company has developed multi-dimensional maintenance standards and emergency plans, strictly implementing 24-hour duty during peak power consumption periods.

Maintenance personnel continuously monitor equipment operation and load changes, and regularly conduct unannounced, unscripted joint emergency drills for substations and fire safety to improve response speed and emergency handling.