Circular substation powers green development in Xiong'an

A pioneering substation in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province, is providing a fresh solution for sustainable urban power supply.

The Fuxing 220-kilovolt substation, China's first circular steel-structured substation and Xiong'an's first full-lifecycle near-zero carbon facility, has been injecting green energy into the new area since its operation began on June 30, Hebei Daily reported on Thursday.

Zhang Longyue, a staff member at State Grid Hebei Electric Power Construction, said that the circular shape increases wind speed, allowing natural wind to dissipate heat from equipment without using extra energy for cooling.

This design also reduces land use by nearly 30 percent compared to conventional substations. Furthermore, the building utilizes perforated aluminum panels for temperature control. Its roof is equipped with 1,600 square meters of solar panels, generating about 320,000 kilowatt-hours annually to power its needs, according to Zhang.

Replacing walls with permeable bricks and plants, the substation blends seamlessly into the environment, Zhang added.

With an annual transmission capacity of 900 million kilowatt-hours, enough for 220,000 households, it is a crucial power source for projects in Xiong'an, supporting the area's sustainable growth, he said.