State Grid Corp of China is focusing on building a new power system and launching smart transformations to usher in safer, more reliable, efficient and economical power supply and consumption models.

The aim is to let these new models gradually become a reality within the world's largest and most complex power system, said State Grid.

Zhang Yanyan, director of the Jiangbei centralized control station under State Grid Xiangyang Power Supply Co, said the smart transformation of Niushou substation was successfully completed last month, making it the first smart substation in northern Hubei province.

By creating a three-dimensional intelligent inspection network of drones, simplified robots and high-definition cameras, the project ensures seamless coverage for indoor and outdoor inspections of primary and secondary equipment at the substation, Zhang said.

She added that the transformation to integrated remote controls, intelligent auxiliary systems and intelligent inspection systems helps ensure energy security in northern Hubei in a smart, flexible, economical and efficient manner, and epitomizes the steady progress in building a new power system.

On Dec 3, maintenance personnel at Jiangbei station used an intelligent inspection system to send routine inspection commands to the 220 kilovolt Niushou substation located dozens of kilometers away.

"With inspection terminals, digital meters and environmental sensors, maintenance personnel can monitor equipment appearance, status parameters and dynamic environments without leaving their desks," Zhang said.

The Niushou substation, a critical node for integrating and consuming renewable energy in the Xiangyang-Niushou area, was chosen as a key breakthrough for the pilot project.

Adopting a "pilot-first, comprehensive rollout later" strategy for smart station construction, State Grid Xiangyang intends to let its 90 substations achieve full intelligent inspections by the end of 2026, saving 6,212 annual man-hours and approximately 1,200 hours of inspection time.

Zhang said that from "manned operations" to "unmanned management", and from comprehensive automated substations to today's smart substations, each iteration of China's power system reflects advancements in industrial technology and innovation.

The intelligent transformation of Xiangyang's Niushou substation is both a microcosm and a typical example of the country's drive to advance safer, more reliable, efficient and economical power supply and consumption models, she added.

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