China-Laos 500 kV grid link passes 1 billion kWh of cumulative power delivered
In short
The China-Laos 500 kV grid interconnection project passed 1 billion kWh of cumulative power delivered on October 8, according to China Southern Power Grid's Yunnan Power Grid company. Outlets described it as China's first 500 kV cross-border AC interconnection project. Jiemian reported that the link went into operation on April 20 and has carried solar power from northern Laos to Yunnan and Lao hydropower to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
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The China-Laos 500 kV grid interconnection project passed 1 billion kWh of cumulative power delivered on October 8, Cailian Press (CLS) reported, citing China Southern Power Grid's Yunnan Power Grid company. Yicai, 36Kr and Jiemian also reported the milestone. A CCTV News report, carried by 36Kr and Jiemian, and the CLS report describe the project as China's first 500 kV cross-border AC interconnection project and a flagship energy project for building a China-Laos community with a shared future. The report said the milestone shows the cross-border green power channel's operating efficiency continuing to be realised and marks a new stage for clean-energy links in the Lancang-Mekong region. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Jiemian gave more detail in a market piece. It reported that the project went into operation on April 20, and that solar power from a clean-energy base in northern Laos was sent to Yunnan through it the same day. Since August 6, Lao hydropower has been transmitted through the project to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Jiemian said this transmission is expected to continue until the end of October and total about 600 million kWh, and that the electricity takes part in trading on the southern regional power market. The Jiemian piece was about an electricity-sector exchange-traded fund and cited the project news alongside a 1.48% rise in the fund's underlying power utilities index. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The figure is an operating milestone for a cross-border power link between China and Laos. CCTV News, as carried by several outlets, said the milestone shows the cross-border green power channel's operating efficiency continuing to be realised and marks a new stage for clean-energy links in the Lancang-Mekong region. Jiemian reported that power from the link also takes part in trading on the southern regional electricity market.
Key facts
- The China-Laos 500 kV interconnection project's cumulative power delivery passed 1 billion kWh on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The figure came from China Southern Power Grid's Yunnan Power Grid company, Cailian Press (CLS) reported. [ 1 ]
- The project is China's first 500 kV cross-border AC interconnection project. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The project went into operation on April 20, and solar power from a clean-energy base in northern Laos was sent to Yunnan through it the same day, Jiemian reported. [ 5 ]
- Since August 6, Lao hydropower has been transmitted through the project to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Jiemian reported. [ 5 ]
- That transmission is expected to continue until the end of October and total about 600 million kWh, according to Jiemian. [ 5 ]
- The electricity involved takes part in trading on the southern regional power market, Jiemian reported. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The April 20 start of operations and the delivery of Lao hydropower to the Greater Bay Area since August 6. Only Jiemian, in a piece on an electricity-sector fund, reported these details.
- How the 1 billion kWh is split between solar and hydropower, and between deliveries to Yunnan and to the Greater Bay Area. None of the documents give a breakdown of the cumulative figure.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports, citing Yunnan Power Grid, that the project's cumulative power delivery has passed 1 billion kWh. [ 1 ]
- CLS publishes a fuller report describing the project as China's first 500 kV cross-border AC interconnection. [ 2 ]
- Yicai reports the milestone. [ 3 ]
- 36Kr carries the CCTV News report. [ 4 ]
- Jiemian publishes the CCTV News report and a market piece with details on the project's operation since April 20. [ 5 , 6 ]