EoW November 2010

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EuroWire – November 2010 39
technology news
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China’s Xinhua news agency reports that construction has begun of the world’s longest
and possibly most difficult electricity transmission and conversion project on the
Tibetan Plateau. China calls the project “Heaven Road”.
Construction was apparently started simultaneously in Golmud City of Qinghai
Province and Lhasa City of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The report said that of
the transmission network’s total length of 1,774km, around 565km would run through
year-round permafrost areas.
The project consists of two main electricity networks: a 750kV alternating current
networking project running through the Xining-Riyue Mountain-Wulan-Golmud route
and a 400kV direct current networking project through the Golmud-Lhasa route,
along with other auxiliary projects. The project is intended to provide energy security,
especially in winter, and for the TAR’s rapid economic and social development.
During summer, the project will convoy surplus water in central Tibet to the Qinghai
grid network, to translate hydropower resources into economic benefits.
A People’s Daily online report of 30th July said the project, due to be completed in 2012,
breaks three world records: the world’s longest high-altitude DC transmission line, with
the average altitude being 4,650m and the highest being 5,300m; a DC transmission line
that passes through the longest length of permafrost in the world; and a high-altitude
DC transmission line that passes through areas with the world’s most vulnerable
ecosystem.
However, the report added that the project avoids environmentally sensitive areas such
as Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve and Hoh Xil Nature Reserve.
Xinhua News – China
Website:
High-altitude power line set to
boost Tibet’s development
Composite Technology Corporation (CTC) has completed a 400kV ACCC® conductor
transmission line in Germany. The ACCC 318mm2 Oslo conductor transmission line in
Hanekenfahr, Germany was completed in late 2009 and is now fully energised.
The four kilometre, double bundled 400kV line will run at 1,180 amps and is the
first ACCC conductor line to be energised by Amprion. The line served as a pilot for
Amprion’s personnel to become acquainted with installing CTC Cable’s high efficiency
ACCC conductor and accessories and for future consideration of ACCC conductor for
high capacity, congested transmission lines.
Amprion selected ACCC 318mm2 Oslo conductor because conventional conductors
reach capacity at 80˚C, and it needed to significantly increase capacity without
thermal sag. Amprion tested the ACCC 318mm2 Oslo conductor and found that it met
the requirements for increasing capacity, with less sag at higher temperatures than
conventional conductors.
Amprion GmbH operates Germany’s longest extra-high voltage grid, with a circuit
length of 11,000km, and is an important transmission system operator in Europe.
A population of over 27 million from Lower Saxony down to the Alps is supplied with
power via the Amprion grid.
Amprion is responsible for coordinating the interconnected system within Germany
and the northern section of Europe’s extra-high voltage network.
Composite Technology Corporation – USA
Website:
Amprion GmbH – Germany
Website:
High voltage transmission
line in Germany