Germany - China Standards Information Portal

The 2009 International Conference on UHV (Ultra High Voltage) Transmission was held on 21-22 May 2009 in Beijing, China. It was attended by representatives from governments, industry, power utilities, R&D (Research and Development) institutes, academia and financial organizations from 21 countries and regions. Among the attendees at this major energy conference were Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang; Liu Zhenya, President of SGCC (the State Grid of China Corporation); and SGCC Executive Vice-President Shu Yinbiao.

Speakers included Enno Liess, IEC Vice-President; Jean Kowal, Secretary-General of CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems); Dusan Povh, Chairman of IEC TC (Technical Committee) 115: High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission for DC voltages above 100kV; and Hisatoshi Ikeda, Co-Chairman of JICCG (Joint IEC-CIGRE Coordinating Group).

Liess congratulated China on its vital role in leading the world's efforts to transmit more electrical energy with greater efficiency, minimal impact on the environment and using fewer resources. He pointed out that the IEC National Committee of China, through SAC (the Standardization Administration of China), participates in all 174 IEC TCs and SCs (Subcommittees), with approximately 400 experts from China actively engaged at the working group level, where the detailed standardization work is done.

He noted that China is a member of the three IEC CA (Conformity Assessment) systems and that it uses the most prolific of these, the IECEE CB Scheme for product test certificates, to help support the national CCC (China Compulsory Certification) Mark of conformity for a vast variety of electrical and electronic equipment. (The IECEE is the IEC’s System for Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components).This serves to help Chinese industry export electrical and electronic equipment and components around the world. All of these activities demonstrate China's high level of dedication to IEC international standardization and CA.

Liess explained how IEC International Standards are developed by the world's leading experts in their respective fields with a full life-cycle philosophy that looks at the environmental, energy and efficiency impact of systems and products from their design through to their decommissioning and disposal. He mentioned the cooperation of the IEC with its sister organisations, such as the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization), and other international partners, such as the International Energy Agency, the World Energy Council and CIGRE.

China is particularly interested in developing UHV power transmission technology given the country's demand for energy and need for trans-regional interconnection. The development of a strong power grid based on UHV technology is important for China's future economic stability. Many of the world's countries are following the progress of the SGCC project with great interest.

First plenary meeting of IEC TC 115

The IEC TC 115 first plenary meeting on 22-23 May 2009 was held immediately after the 2009 International Conference on UHV Transmission in Beijing. Thirty delegates from eight P- (Participating) member countries (China, Germany, France, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sweden, Russia) and one O-(Observer) Member country (Great Britain) attended.

As part of the agenda, seven P-member countries gave presentations on the state of HVDC transmission for DC voltages above 100kV in their countries.

The TC 115 meeting also discussed propositions for its title, scope and SBP (Strategic Business Plan). There were generally no objections concerning the title of TC 115 being "High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission for DC voltages above 100kV". However, it was not possible to reach a consensus on the scope and the SBP. Provisionally, the scope is as follows: "Standardization in the field of HVDC Transmission technology above 100kV. The contents encompass general standards, design, technical requirements in the field of HVDC equipment, construction and commissioning for acceptance, operation and maintenance, system control and protection". An ad hoc group has been established to work on these issues.

(Source: IEC)