Henan Power Transmission & Transformation Co., Ltd. Pushes Ahead with Grid Projects Amid Sweltering Heat

July in southern Henan Province is marked by relentless heatwaves. Across this sun-scorched region, two major infrastructure projects—the ±800 kV Shaanbei–Anhui UHVDC Transmission Line (Henan Lot 5) and the 500 kV Zhumadian West Substation—are pressing forward in a determined race against the high temperatures.

Staff of Henan Power Transmission & Transformation Co., Ltd. install electrical equipment under the blazing sun

Photo by Wang Cunfang

By 6:00 a.m., the construction site at the DaGuang Expressway crossing section of the ±800 kV UHVDC project is already bustling. Workers from Henan Power Transmission & Transformation Co., Ltd. are working through the heat with efficiency and focus to keep the project on schedule. “To cope with the prolonged high temperatures in Henan, the project team closely monitors weather conditions and promptly adjusts crew work hours to avoid peak heat,” explained Zhang Xin, Project Manager of the Shaanxi–Anhui UHV Project. “We’ve also set up shaded rest shelters at the site and ensured access to drinking water and emergency heatstroke medication.”

Staff working atop a transmission tower to secure power lines

Photo by He Huan

At the 500 kV Zhumadian West Substation, teams are currently installing the core components of the main transformer. To ensure steady progress, a staggered shift schedule—“working at both ends and resting in the middle”—has been adopted, with crews starting at 6:00 a.m., pausing at 10:00 a.m., and resuming at 3:00 p.m. until late at night. This approach ensures the precise placement of key equipment in this emerging “hub” of southern Henan’s power grid, accelerating the timeline for full commissioning before the end of the year.