On June 8, 2026, in the Three Gorges Dam area of Yichang, Hubei, a major relocation related to power supply in eastern and central China quietly began.

On this day, the Three Gorges Water Transport New Channel officially started construction. Above it, 48 transmission lines are about to be moved out of their old locations - because the corridors of these lines happen to occupy the construction land for future ship locks and waterways. Without relocation, the ship cannot pass through; Relocation, electricity cannot be cut off.

A large-scale power relocation and renovation project with simultaneous construction and supply guarantee has begun.

Wrong dry season and peak avoidance period, segmented relocation and improvement

The main project of the Three Gorges Water Transport New Channel needs to pass under multiple existing transmission lines. The original clearance height of the route cannot meet the requirements of subsequent ship navigation and foundation pit excavation construction standards, and the relocation of the route is inevitable.

According to the hydrological rhythm of the Yangtze River and the changes in regional electricity consumption, State Grid Hubei Electric Power Co., Ltd. has formulated a construction plan for staggered dry season, peak avoidance period, segmented relocation, and ring network transfer. The relocation and reconstruction of power lines are divided into three stages: early stage, middle stage, and relocation and reconstruction. From October to April of the following year, high-voltage power outages are arranged in a centralized manner, and low-voltage distribution network dismantling and cutting are carried out during monthly low electricity periods and early morning load gaps. It is expected that the relocation and reconstruction of 20 key preliminary lines will be completed by the end of December 2026.

Eight main lines, responsible for nearly 40% of the outbound volume

Among the 48 lines relocated this time, 8 500 kV main lines are responsible for nearly 40% of the external power transmission of the Three Gorges. State Grid Hubei Ultra High Voltage Company will take the lead in implementing the relocation and reconstruction of these 8 lines, completing the construction of 59 new iron towers, the demolition of 54 old iron towers, and the replacement of grounding wires along the entire line.

The project adopts the power grid load transfer method to ensure smooth external transmission, and compresses the duration of power outage operations from the process level through technological transformation. Yichang Power Supply Company is synchronously promoting the relocation and reconstruction of 40 220 kV and medium low voltage lines, adopting methods such as staggered transformation and nighttime construction to minimize the disturbance to electricity consumption along the line.

Daily power transmission remains stable at over 300 million kilowatt hours

The total installed capacity of the Three Gorges Power Station is 22.5 million kilowatts. It is an important power supply point in central, eastern and southern China. Clean hydropower is sent to more than ten provinces through multiple ultra-high voltage lines, including the power interconnection of relevant areas along the the Belt and Road. Keywords: New energy news and information, hydropower

During the construction period, relying on the mature ring network architecture of the Three Gorges area, and through scheduling measures such as load shifting and temporary bypass installation, the daily average external power transmission of the Three Gorges can be stably maintained at over 300 million kilowatt hours during critical periods such as peak summer and cold wave supply, effectively avoiding power generation restrictions or delays. State Grid Hubei Electric Power will closely follow each dry water construction node, orderly promote tower construction, old line demolition, and line relocation operations, to ensure continuous power supply and uninterrupted supply throughout the relocation process.Editor/Gao Xue