Yesterday (September 16), China commenced construction of the Tibet-Guangdong DC transmission project, a key inter-provincial transmission infrastructure under the country's "14th Five-Year Plan." Stretching 2,681 kilometers, this power artery will connect Tibet to Guangdong. Upon full operation in 2029, it will deliver over 43 billion kWh of clean energy annually to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – equivalent to half of the Three Gorges Dam's annual power generation.
Most remarkably, the project will achieve "green energy flash delivery," transmitting electricity from Tibet to Guangdong in just 0.009 seconds, essentially enabling energy "teleportation." This engineering feat represents a world-class challenge, with nearly 90% of the route traversing mountainous terrain, crossing China's three major geographical steps with significant elevation changes and complex geological conditions. Beyond distance, it represents a breakthrough in technological limits.
This power highway crossing geographical barriers and mountain ranges delivers more than clean energy – it represents a major nation's response to energy independence and technological innovation. As the world's most powerful and technically advanced flexible DC transmission project, it demonstrates China's leading position in ultra-high voltage transmission technology.
Observing such rapid advancement in power infrastructure inevitably brings to mind Zhejiang's Thousand Island Lake and the Xinanjiang Hydroelectric Station, which created "a calm lake above high gorges" during China's first Five-Year Plan. In the 1950s, when China built its first large-scale hydroelectric station – designed, equipped, and constructed entirely independently – the country faced severe resource constraints. Lacking technology and talent, it relied on Soviet expert guidance. This marked the nascent stage of China's power industry, where every step was fraught with difficulties.
Poet Guo Moruo once reflected on the magnificent completed Xinanjiang Hydroelectric Station: "Seizing power from nature, conquering drought and flood; rebirth through self-reliance, irrigation benefiting rural communities." Today, the Tibet-Guangdong DC project has overcome world-class challenges including ultra-high altitude DC transmission technology at 4,300 meters and integrating 20 million kW of new energy into weak grids, achieving complete industrial chain independence. From foreign dependence to independent innovation, from learning and catching up to leading globally, China's power industry has traveled a challenging yet glorious path.
While appearing to be about power transmission on the surface, the Tibet-Guangdong DC project represents a strategic nationwide energy resource allocation. Tibet's abundant clean energy resources perfectly complement Guangdong's position as China's largest electricity consumer, demonstrating the developmental wisdom of nationwide resource optimization through regional coordination.
In 2024, Tibet's clean energy has already been transmitted to over ten provinces nationwide. Recently, Tibet's green electricity achieved its first cross-regional transaction with Shanghai, involving 7.85 million kWh to be executed from September 24-30, filling the cooperation gap between these regions.
This "power highway" spanning natural barriers transmits green electricity while demonstrating national strength. From the "self-reliance" at Xinanjiang to "world leadership" on the snowy plateau, the leapfrog development of China's power industry exemplifies the surging progress of Chinese-style modernization. The Tibet-Guangdong DC transmission project illuminates not only the Greater Bay Area's brilliant night sky, but also China's future path toward energy independence and green transformation.