State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company Safeguards Intangible Heritage with Digital Power Solutions

Amidst the sparkling waters of Qinhu Lake, 500 bamboo-rowing boats raced across the waves on April 6 as the 18th China Qintong Boat Festival commenced in Jiangyan, Taizhou. This national intangible cultural heritage event saw State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company deploy a robust digital power assurance system, providing uninterrupted electricity for the centuries-old aquatic spectacle.

As East China’s largest folk custom celebration, the festival’s opening ceremonies, water processions, and night light shows tripled the daily power load across 12 key zones including the main venue and lakeside viewing platforms. The utility company mobilized 156 technicians who conducted 70 special patrols and 28 drone inspections along 6.3 km of critical power lines, achieving zero outages, faults, or safety risks through a tiered protection network.

The Guanzhuang Power Supply Center’s new smart command platform, integrating real-time load monitoring and infrared detection via eight AI-enabled cameras, achieved 99.7% equipment monitoring accuracy. “Our 3D visualization system pinpoints faults within three minutes,” explained Wu Chongjin, the operation lead, adding that the upgraded load forecasting module can predict demand fluctuations two hours in advance.

A 350kW mobile generator and modular energy storage units formed dual backup power sources, with field tests confirming 15-millisecond grid-to-backup switching during simulated outages—critical for sustaining laser shows and stage systems. Waterproof switchgears and corrosion-resistant cable connectors were installed to withstand the humid lakeside environment.

As night fell, synchronized laser projections and 2,000 intelligent LED lights illuminated the lake, recreating the historic “forest of oars under stars” scene. “These technological innovations will become part of our standard protocol for major events,” stated the company’s maintenance director, highlighting how digital solutions were preserving cultural heritage while advancing China’s smart grid capabilities. (By Yang Yi and Li Yang)