State Grid Xinyuan Zhejiang Qujiang pumped-storage power station 500 kV transmission line project: First tower successfully erected

The first steel tower of the State Grid Xinyuan Zhejiang Qujiang pumped-storage 500 kV transmission project was successfully erected in Liangtoutang village, Dazhou town, Qujiang district, Quzhou city, Zhejiang province, on Sept 15, formally advancing the project into full-scale tower-assembly work and laying a solid foundation for on-schedule commissioning.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A "green, secure and stable" energy flagship project designated by Zhejiang province, the 500 kV transmission line will span Qujiang district and Longyou county, adding 37.65 kilometers of new circuit and 107 towers. Once completed, it will create a high-capacity corridor between the Qujiang pumped-storage plant and the Xiajin 500 kV substation, significantly improving Zhejiang's grid structure, peak-load flexibility, renewable-energy hosting capability, as well as overall security and efficiency — critical for the province's carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality objectives.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To ensure fast yet orderly progress, State Grid Quzhou Power Supply Company, State Grid Zhejiang Construction Company, Zhejiang Power Transmission & Transformation Company, and State Grid Xinyuan Zhejiang Qujiang Branch formed a dedicated task force at the preparatory stage. By coordinating closely with local governments and regulatory bodies, all construction permits and land-rights issues were resolved by the end of August, achieving a truly "barrier-free" construction. A pilot tower-assembly operation was then carried out to refine standardized processes for both tower erection and stringing, following the "model-first, pilot-led" approach to drive full-process, detailed management and elevate safety and quality.

Facing tight schedules, heavy workloads, and complex terrain, the project team adheres to a "standardized, mechanized and smart" construction strategy, deploying multiple advanced technologies. Foundation excavation extensively uses rotary drilling rigs and integrated deep-foundation working platforms. In mountainous areas, material transport relies on ropeways and heavy-lift cargo UAVs to overcome access challenges. For tower assembly and conductor stringing, new-type gin poles and intelligent, visualized tension-stringing equipment are introduced, significantly reducing high-altitude work risks and enhancing safety and efficiency.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The successful erection of the first tower marks a major milestone for the State Grid Xinyuan Zhejiang Qujiang pumped-storage 500 kV transmission project. To date, 98 foundations (92 percent) have been poured, and overall progress has reached 34 percent. Full line completion is scheduled for late January 2026, with commissioning targeted before Spring Festival in February. Serving as the "main artery" linking the plant to the bulk-power system, the line will allow Qujiang pumped storage to act as both "stabilizer" and "modulator" within the new-type power system, accelerating the development of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy infrastructure and injecting strong green momentum into Zhejiang's high-quality growth.