On April 10, 2026, with the successful transmission of 500 kV Diquan Line 1 and 2, the first 500 kV three-dimensional dual ring network in Southwest China was fully completed and put into operation. This massive project, which has taken nearly five years and a total investment of over 10 billion yuan, not only enhances the safe carrying capacity of Chengdu power grid to over 25 million kilowatts, but also marks a crucial step in the construction of the three-dimensional hub power grid of Sichuan's "three supplies and three receivers" and cross regional "multiple inputs and outputs", becoming an important energy cornerstone for the high-quality development of the Chengdu Chongqing economic circle.

A large 'power interchange bridge' is born

If we compare the previous power grid to a single main road, the current three-dimensional dual ring network is like a powerful overpass, "said Zhou Jian, Deputy Director of the Dispatch Control Center of State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company. This "overpass" consists of 15 500 kV substations, including 7 inner rings and 8 outer rings. Through the construction and renovation of more than 20 ultra-high voltage lines, it forms two three-dimensional closed-loop "power highway loops". It is not only connected to the 1000 kV Sichuan Chongqing ultra-high voltage AC project, efficiently introducing clean electricity from western Sichuan, but also can flexibly and reliably distribute electrical energy to every corner of the city through 15 substations, just like an overpass diverting vehicles.

Digital technology runs through the entire construction process

In the past five years of construction, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power has deeply integrated digital technology with power grid engineering, creating an intelligent modern power grid construction system. From line laying to quality inspection, new technologies and equipment such as visual laying, digital twin modeling, drone assisted design, and sag detection robots have been widely applied. These "black technologies" not only improve engineering accuracy and construction efficiency, but also significantly reduce safety risks, providing a replicable "Sichuan model" for the intelligent construction of large-scale power grid projects in China in the future.

Injecting strong 'electric power' into urban and regional development

The operation of Chengdu's 500 kV three-dimensional dual ring network directly enhances the ability of Sichuan power grid to undertake clean energy and cross regional transmission. Through the 1000 kV Sichuan Chongqing ultra-high voltage AC project, the abundant clean power such as wind power and photovoltaics in the western Sichuan region can be efficiently and stably transmitted to the Chengdu load center. This not only enhances the security carrying capacity of Chengdu's main network to over 25 million kilowatts, but also provides a solid energy guarantee for the construction of the Chengdu Chongqing dual city economic circle and the high-quality development of the city in the future. State Grid Sichuan Electric Power stated that during the 15th Five Year Plan period, it will continue to expand and strengthen the ring network, undertake more clean electricity from western Sichuan and electricity from outside the province, help build a new energy system, and contribute to national energy security.

The completion of the first 500 kV three-dimensional dual ring network in the southwest region is not only an important milestone in the upgrading of China's power grid architecture, but also injects strong and green "electric power" into promoting energy transformation and coordinated development of service areas.Editor/Yang Meiling