China produces more clean energy than any other country. Now it's rolling out an ultra-high-voltage grid to match – will its strategy of going big pay off?

Summary

China leads the world in ultra-high-voltage (UHV) power transmission, with 48,000km of UHV lines connecting remote renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, and hydropower, to urban centers.

UHV lines minimize energy loss over long distances, earning them the nickname “bullet trains for power.”

Initially designed for coal and hydro, these lines now support China’s renewable energy expansion.

However, challenges remain, including high costs, dependence on coal for stability, and limited local integration.

Globally, countries like Brazil and India are adopting UHV, but regulatory and cost barriers hinder broader deployment, especially in the U.S.

  • Flying SquidMEnglish
    13•1 month ago

    It sure took a long time to get down to this part:

    In 2022, 56.2% of the electricity transmitted by UHV lines in China came from renewable sources, beating the government’s target of “no less than 50%”. But most of this was hydropower – which China classes as renewable and clean – a government report showed. While hydropower does not rely on fossil fuels, it has other environmental drawbacks, such as harming river health and releasing methane. The portion for wind and solar carried on the UHV lines is much lower, averaging 27.25%, according to an analysis of the report by Chinese thinktank Lingdian Energy.

    • @[email protected]English
      15•1 month ago

      More than a quarter is still pretty good. And I think most people would call hydro a renewable energy source. Still better than fossil fuels for sure.

      They’re building 2/3 of the worlds wind and solar capacity each year so this will likely just keep increasing.

      We’re still arguing about whether global warming is real and they’re smashing it. A bit embarrassing really.

      • Flying SquidMEnglish
        0•1 month ago

        Massive amounts of the output from burning coal continued to being pumped into the atmosphere doesn’t sound like “smashing it” to me. More like “not as bad as it could be.”

        • @[email protected]English
          9•1 month ago

          They seem to be making better progress than many other countries on renewables.

          Hopefully they’ll transition off coal and onto battery infrastructure as renewables increase.

          • Flying SquidMEnglish
            4•1 month ago

            And when (or if) they do, I’ll say they’re smashing it. Right now, they’re just not as bad as some of their competitors.

            • Avid AmoebaEnglish
              3•1 month ago

              Today they’re smashing it at the rate of installation per year.

    • rustydominoEnglish
      4•1 month ago

      Wait, how does hydro release methane?

      • @[email protected]English
        10•1 month ago

        To dam a river you flood the upstream portion to create a height difference in the river that your can use to generate electricity.

        This flooding submerges MASSIVE amounts of vegetation which undergoes anaerobic decomposition releasing tons of methane. It’s a one time thing, but it’s actually up there when you include the expected lifetime of a hydro plant, and the fact that methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas.