World-first SPG project completed in Yan’an

State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Co has made progress in grid innovation and power services, completing a world-first static power generator (SPG) demonstration project and nearing completion of a major grid upgrade in downtown Zichang, a county-level city in Yan'an.

Power workers from State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Co construct power equipment. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

On Aug 27, the company finished major equipment installation for the 35-kilovolt SPG project at Fanghe substation in Ansai district, which has now entered the electrical commissioning stage. Jointly developed with the China Academy of Electronic and Information Technology, the project uses the world's first 35-kV, 30-megavolt-ampere-reactive SPG, with its core equipment independently developed and domestically manufactured.

The project, the result of 16 years of research, addresses voltage stability challenges arising from large-scale renewable energy integration. Once operational in September, it is expected to increase renewable energy transmission capacity by 138 megawatts and add 200 million kilowatt-hours of annual renewable power generation, while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 156,000 metric tons.

Meanwhile, the company is upgrading the power grid in Zichang's old urban area, benefiting 4,751 households and businesses. The project has improved power reliability from 99.89 percent to 99.98 percent and helped support local residents, businesses, and the city's red tourism sector.