State Grid Wuzhong's new Guangcai 110 kV Substation boosts power supply

The Guangcai 110 kV transmission and transformation project, built by State Grid Wuzhong Power Supply Company, began commercial operations on Sept 21. Construction started in October 2025 and was completed on schedule.

The project is a key power infrastructure initiative supporting high-quality development in Hongsibu district. Hongsibu is China's largest centralized ecological resettlement area. In recent years, its farming and breeding industries, industrial parks, and photovoltaic new energy sector have been growing quickly.

Electricity demand has risen, and the need to connect and consume new energy has expanded, putting greater pressure on grid capacity and reliability.

Located in the northeast of Hongsibu's urban area, the Guangcai project addresses regional grid weaknesses and improves the overall network. Before it was built, southern Hongsibu relied on the 110 kV Hongsibu Substation, while the industrial park depended on the 110 kV Rongjiachuan and 35 kV Xingwang and Tuanjie substations.

Although this provided divided supply, the grid still faced an imbalance between north and south, insufficient capacity in the north, weak load transfer, and limited room for new energy access.

With Guangcai now operating, Hongsibu's grid has been restructured into a stronger, smarter system with dual north-south hubs, grid-wide coverage, high-low voltage linkage, and mutual backup.

Together with the 110 kV Hongsibu Substation in the south, the new Guangcai Substation creates a dual supply network that reduces load on the original main station and strengthens supply in northern urban and surrounding areas. Linked with substations in the industrial park, it improves transfer capacity, fault self-healing, and supply redundancy, making the whole grid safer and more stable.

The project also supports Hongsibu's new energy industry by releasing grid access capacity. With plentiful sunlight, Hongsibu is one of Ningxia's key areas for solar power development. Projects combining photovoltaics with desert control and agriculture, as well as centralized and distributed solar projects, have continued to expand.

Due to its previously limited grid capacity, the area's ability to connect, consume, and transmit new energy was constrained. Guangcai will improve photovoltaic collection, transmission, and consumption, open new energy connection channels, and support the local carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy and green energy transition.

Construction was complicated by frequent sandstorms, challenging field conditions, stringent technical requirements and a tight schedule. The company closely monitored safety, quality and progress, while a dedicated team worked to identify and resolve potential hazards and equipment defects.

Next, State Grid Wuzhong will further optimize the regional grid, strengthen equipment operation and maintenance, and ensure reliable power supply during Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day period.

The company will continue to safeguard residential electricity, industrial upgrading, and new energy development, supporting rural vitalization and high-quality economic and social development in Hongsibu.