Talking about New Opportunities in China's Economy | Overview: High Voltage Direct Current Transmission Technology of Chinese Enterprises Helps Chile's Green Development High Voltage | Chile | Transmission
Santiago, August 14th (Xinhua) -- Summary: High voltage direct current transmission technology from Chinese enterprises helps Chile's green development
Xinhua News Agency reporter
In Chile, which is 20000 kilometers away from China, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. is actively preparing for the country's first high-voltage direct current transmission line. As the largest overseas green investment grid project of China Southern Power Grid so far, this 1350km long transmission line will become an important achievement of the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between China and Chile, helping Chile's green development.
In 2021, Southern Power Grid International formed a tripartite joint venture with Transelec of Chile and National Transmission Company of Colombia to participate in the bidding and winning the bid for the high-voltage direct current transmission line project from Kimal in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile to Loajire in the central capital region. The project was officially awarded in May 2022.
The tripartite joint venture established Chile DC Transmission Joint Venture in 2022, specifically responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the KILO project. The general manager of the company, Fernandes, said that each of the three companies has sent backbone forces to join the company, complementing each other's strengths and strengths to ensure the successful progress of the project.
Currently, Chile is vigorously promoting energy transformation and proposing to close all coal-fired power plants by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality goals by 2050. Due to insufficient transmission capacity, many new energy power generation companies in northern Chile are facing enormous pressure to abandon wind and solar power, and urgently need to accelerate the construction of transmission lines. The KILO project aims to transfer the abundant clean energy from the Atacama Desert region in northern Chile to the Chilean Capital Region, reducing electricity costs for end-users and reducing carbon emissions.
The KILO project has a static investment of 1.89 billion US dollars and is expected to be completed in 2029. At that time, it will become the highest voltage level, longest transmission distance, largest transmission capacity, and highest seismic resistance transmission project in Chile. As a major project planned at the national strategic level in Chile, this project is expected to create at least 5000 job opportunities locally, making significant contributions to promoting sustainable energy development, achieving energy transformation, and serving Chile's decarbonization goals.
In addition to project investment, Southern Power Grid also formed a consortium with Xi'an Xidian International Engineering Company, a subsidiary of China Electric Equipment Group Co., Ltd., to undertake the EPC general contracting of the converter stations at both ends of the KILO project. Southern Power Grid is responsible for overall negotiation, system research, design and commissioning, and construction management, while Xidian International is mainly responsible for equipment provision and procurement.
Chile has a narrow and long terrain, with a long distance between the load center and energy center, making it particularly suitable for constructing point-to-point DC transmission projects. The rapid control of DC transmission will greatly improve the stability of the power system. DC transmission technology is widely used and mature in China, but it is relatively rare in the Latin American market except for Brazil.
Gan Yunliang, Chief Technology Officer of the joint venture and from Southern Power Grid, said, "We particularly hope to use this project to help Latin America understand Chinese solutions and standards. China's high-voltage direct current transmission standards have become part of international standards. We hope to actively cooperate with Chile's electricity regulatory authorities and help establish local standards for direct current transmission through the construction of Chile's first high-voltage direct current transmission project."
It is reported that the KILO project will help Chinese power companies gain more opportunities for contact and cooperation with the Latin American power industry, drive Chinese technology, equipment, and standards to go global, and enable Latin American countries to better understand Chinese enterprises, promoting deep cooperation and mutual benefit between China and Latin America. At present, the KILO project is vigorously carrying out systematic research, on-site investigation, environmental impact assessment, community communication, land acquisition, bidding and procurement, and plans to complete the preparation of the environmental impact report and route design work within this year.