Smart technologies enhance UHV grid maintenance

This year's annual maintenance work on the North Shaanxi-Hubei ±800-kilovolt ultra-high-voltage direct-current transmission project commenced on May 19.

As a key energy corridor under China's west-to-east and north-to-south power transmission programs, the project has sent more than 121 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to Hubei since it went into operation, lending strong impetus to green development in central and eastern China.

The northern Shaanxi converter station serves as the project's sending-end station. The maintenance operation covers 17 work fronts, with over 500 workers from 13 organizations working simultaneously to complete nearly 19,000 tasks, ranging from routine maintenance to special technical upgrades.

Compared with previous maintenance cycles, this round features wider adoption of digital and intelligent technologies, with a range of smart equipment deployed at scale. Nine categories of inspection records and 11 types of standard work cards are managed digitally.

Smart helmets equipped with high-definition cameras enable full-process video monitoring, image archiving and voice alerts, offering robust support for quality traceability and safety control.

Additionally, a cable trench cover lifter independently developed by frontline workers has greatly boosted operational efficiency while lowering safety risks. An aerial electronic fence system defines safety perimeters with centimeter-level precision, effectively mitigating risks associated with working at height.

This annual maintenance represents a tangible move by State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power to advance its digital and intelligent transformation and strengthen power grid safety.

The company will further improve the reliability of the UHV grid, make operations and maintenance smarter and more precise, and help ensure reliable cross-regional electricity supplies and meet peak summer demand.