Xintong Centralized Control Station Completed and Put into Operation in Shanghai

Recently, the Xintong Centralized Control Station, the third new-generation centralized control station of Shanghai's main grid, was completed and put into operation. This marks the transformation of the operation and maintenance management model for Shanghai's main grid substations from the traditional central station model to the new-generation centralized control station model. With the successive commissioning of the Yanggao, Wujiaochang, and Xintong centralized control stations, a new operational pattern for Shanghai's main grid has basically taken shape. Currently, the three centralized control stations jointly undertake the operation and maintenance monitoring tasks for 139 substations at 220 kV and above.

An intelligent inspection robot performs inspection on GIS equipment at the 500 kV Sanlin Substation. 

[Photo via State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company]

Compared with traditional central stations, the monitoring coverage of the new-generation centralized control stations has more than doubled. Taking the Xintong Centralized Control Station as an example, it has taken over all the substations formerly under the jurisdiction of the Huangdu and Sijing central stations, as well as some substations previously managed by the Yuandong Central Station. Today, a monitoring team of just 18 personnel can carry out centralized monitoring, remote operations, and emergency response command for 54 substations, equivalent to the workload previously handled by three operational teams totaling 36 personnel under the traditional central station model.

The new-generation centralized control stations adopt an integrated system that incorporates the main and auxiliary equipment unified monitoring system, intelligent inspection system, remote permit processing system, and more. Monitoring personnel can not only keep track of the operating status of main equipment in real time but also remotely adjust auxiliary facilities such as lighting and air conditioning within the stations. They can also deploy drones and robots for multi-angle inspections, improving the efficiency of defect detection. During maintenance operations, operation and maintenance personnel can process permits remotely, enabling intelligent identification of personnel and vehicles as well as access control.

The construction of the new-generation centralized control stations for Shanghai's main power grid began in 2021. In accordance with relevant regulations and in alignment with the power grid development plan, the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company formulated a three-step goal: to complete the construction of three centralized control stations by 2026, gradually replacing the original seven central stations. In March 2023, the new-generation centralized control system was completed and passed acceptance, laying the foundation for the construction of the physical centralized control stations. (By Hu Dian)