Hitachi Energy breaks through China’s power-grid industry with first 1100 kV GIS order for UHV transmission system

• Hitachi Energy has been awarded its first 1100 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) order, marking a significant breakthrough at the top voltage level of China’s AC ultra-high voltage (UHV) system.
• The project reinforces a four-province AC backbone interconnecting Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces, enhancing cross-provincial power transfers and grid resilience within the Central China grid.
• Hitachi Energy will provide engineering, delivery and lifecycle support.

Hitachi Energy today announced it will supply 1100 kV GIS for the 1000 kV Nanchang ultra-high-voltage (UHV) substation in Jiangxi Province. The scope will support the substation expansion project as part of ongoing UHV grid build-out.

Commissioned in the end of 2021, the 1000 kV Nanchang substation is an important node of the central China’s double-looped 1000 kV UHV grid and the first 1000 kV UHV substation in Jiangxi Province. It plays a crucial role in strengthening interconnection between Hunan and Jiangxi, increasing inter-provincial sending/receiving capability, facilitating the unified consumption of renewable energy in Jiangxi and Hunan, and containing short-circuit current levels across the Central China grid.

As an essential part of UHV grid construction, the Nanchang 1000 kV substation expansion project will further support the station’s stable operation and future development. This corridor also forms part of a broader four-province AC backbone linking Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi, enabling large-scale clean-power transfers and improving system flexibility across the region. Hitachi Energy’s 1100 kV GIS will provide strong support to achieve these objectives.

“China's systematic deployment in the UHV grid sector has laid a solid foundation for renewable energy development and secure power supply. We are honored to support the expansion of Nanchang 1000 kV UHV substation — a major milestone for Hitachi Energy's GIS technology in the world's highest-voltage networks,” said James Zhao, Executive Vice President and Region head of Greater China, Hitachi Energy. “Leveraging our leading technology, we remain committed to advancing China's UHV strategy and China's low-carbon energy transition.”

Hitachi Energy’s 1100 kV GIS technology is engineered for insulation coordination. It offers the performance and reliability required by duties and reliability requirements of China’s 1000 kV AC UHV system, combining a compact layout with high mechanical endurance and comprehensive lifecycle services. Manufacturing will take place at Hitachi Energy’s high-voltage switchgear facility in Xiamen, China.

“We are proud to deploy the 1100 kV GIS technology in China – the highest voltage level in the world and under the most stringent grid requirements,” said Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of the High Voltage Products Business Unit, Hitachi Energy. “This installation demonstrates the strength of our technology, enhances grid efficiency, and supports China’s transition to widespread electrification.”