Henan Inaugurates UHV AC Simulation Training Base

On April 16th, the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company officially launched its UHV AC Simulation Training Base. Leveraging digital technologies and extensive on-site resources, the state-of-the-art facility integrates simulation training, emergency response drills, and skills assessments. It is designed to foster a closed-loop talent development ecosystem encompassing “training, practice, evaluation, and review,” providing robust human capital to ensure the safe and stable operation of UHV power grids.

With the continuous expansion of UHV power grid infrastructure in recent years, the operation and maintenance (O&M) workforce has grown significantly, creating an urgent need to enhance their technical proficiency. Traditional UHV O&M training methods face challenges, including the high risk associated with hands-on equipment operation, the uneven distribution of resources across different regions, and the potential for subjectivity in skills evaluations.

The 1000 kV Nanyang UHV Substation is a critical component of the 1000 kV Jin Southeast-Nanyang-Jingmen UHV AC pilot demonstration project. Recognizing the substation’s wealth of invaluable equipment, personnel, and technological resources, State Grid Henan Electric Power organized the Henan DC Company last year to spearhead the development of the UHV AC Simulation Training Base.

Guided by the principles of “autonomy and specialization” in UHV O&M, Henan DC Company innovatively created an intelligent, digitalized training platform that offers “complete scenario coverage, data-driven insights, and comprehensive lifecycle management.” By employing digital twin technology to create 1:1 virtual replicas of core equipment, such as the 1000 kV main transformer, the platform enables realistic simulations of all business processes, including “monitoring, inspection, switching operations, and emergency response,” effectively eliminating risks associated with live equipment manipulation. Furthermore, the base utilizes existing on-site equipment, such as the 1000 kV spare main transformer, 1000 kV high-voltage circuit breakers, current transformers, secondary protection devices, and associated buildings, to support targeted, high-quality training. In this way, it can help trainees precisely master equipment abnormality response procedures and key operational considerations.

The base is slated for further expansion in 2026 to better accommodate systematic training requirements for UHV O&M personnel, including UHV equipment disassembly instruction and high-voltage testing. The ultimate goal is to establish a comprehensive, end-to-end UHV O&M capability development system based on “knowledge, experimentation, and resolution,” thereby providing a solid foundation of expertise to support the effective operation and maintenance of UHV power grids.

(Huo Xin, Zhu Sen, Cui Xiangzhen)