Xinjiang's power transmission hits 1-trillion-kWh milestone

URUMQI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cumulative electricity transmitted from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had exceeded 1 trillion kilowatt-hours by Monday, according to the State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Company.

The transmission program, which began in 2010, has supplied power to 22 provinces across China, supporting national energy security significantly.

Of all electricity exported from the region, 29.6 percent has come from new energy sources such as solar and wind power. This has translated to substantial ecological benefits, including a coal consumption reduction of approximately 89.53 million tonnes and a carbon-dioxide emissions cut of 240 million tonnes.

Xinjiang -- rich in coal, solar and wind resources -- has established a robust power grid with five major transmission channels. This infrastructure enables a transmission capacity of 33 million kilowatts, facilitating large-scale cross-regional power transmission.

To optimize the use of transmission channels, Xinjiang has integrated into the national unified power market, implementing flexible trading systems. The region leverages a two to three hour time difference with eastern China to balance supply and demand, thereby enhancing efficiency.