Power Transmission Line Passing through Tianshan Mountains and No-man Zone Put into Operation

HIMALAYAL - SHANGHAI - CHINA

The government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China held a completion ceremony of 750kV Yili-Kuche transmission and distribution project at 750kV Yili substation on November 22, 2016. The 750kV Yili-Kuche project was put into operation after two years of construction, marking the overall completion of 750kV main gird network in Xinjiang.  

The project starts from 750kV Yili substation in Nileke county and ends in 750kV Kuche substation in Kuche county. With a total investment of ¥1.955 billion, it takes two years to complete the project (November 5, 2014-November 5, 2016 ) and there are 717 towers in all. The total length of line is 353.7 kilometers and the altitude ranges from 800 meters to 3,750 meters.  

1. Bad natural conditions    

Unique landscape 

The 750kV Yili-Kuche power transmission line is Chinese first line to pass through glaciers and permafrost. Now that 70% of power transmission line passes through Tianshan Mountains, it is more difficult to construct compared with plain construction.  

Heavy rain and snow 

The project is subject to many challenges during two years. It rains and snows more than half of a year and most of tower foundations are located between high mountains, which are steep and pose serious risks. 62% of all towers can not be reached by vehicles so the transportation is mostly dependent on cable-ways. There are 98 erected cable-ways in total during the project construction and 233 towers are transported, the weight of which amounts up to 13831.5 ton. The basic material is 34,000m3. 


2. Protect the local environment to a maximum extent   

Given that the transmission line passes through Tianshan Mountain natural reserve, the Xinjiang Electric Power company (branch of State Grid) optimizes construction line and shifts the operation to no-man zone to protect local environment to a maximum extent. The line adopts the depth-span design and tower’s overall height extends. 90% of towers are 30 meters higher than common towers. In spite of the dramatic increase in construction costs, that move ensures enough space for original spruces to grow in the coming 100 years. The unmanned aerial vehicles are used to place guide ropes in the cross-river areas to avoid vegetation cutting and deterioration. Sun-proof nets cover around tower foundations and grass seeds are scattered. 

3. Realize mutual electricity supply for southern and northern parts of Xinjiang     

With the operation of this line, 750kV grid network surrounding Tianshan Mountain formed. The southern and northern parts of Xinjiang can share the electric power together. Besides ensuring electric balance and improving the capability of transmitting the electricity to outside, the project will also promote countries along One Belt, One Road Initiative to draw on each other’s strengths. And, it provides stable and reliable electric support for speeding up the Yili-to-Jingmen UHV transmission project and China-to-Pakistan electric network project.