Historic cross-sea project ends power grid isolation on south China island

A 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project was officially put into operation on Friday, ending years of grid isolation on south China's Weizhou Island by linking it to the main power system of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Weizhou Island, the largest in Guangxi, lies in the Beibu Gulf more than 24 nautical miles (about 44.5 kilometers) from the mainland. For decades, its electricity supply relied heavily on gas and diesel generators, often struggling to meet demand. .

The new project, built by the subsidiary of China Southern Power Grid in Guangxi with a total investment of about 858 million yuan (about 125 million U.S. dollars), includes a 220 kV substation on the island and 220 kV transmission lines connecting it to the regional grid. The upgrade ensures a stable and ample power supply.

"With the project now in operation, the island's power supply capacity will increase from 35,000 kilowatts to 161,000 kilowatts, greatly improving power reliability. Meanwhile, clean energy can now also be channeled directly to the island through the main grid, further promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction, with annual carbon dioxide emissions expected to fall by about 43,000 tonnes," said Tian Quan, manager of Weizhou Power Supply Branch of China Southern Power Grid's Beihai Power Supply Bureau.

The Beibu Gulf is home to one of China's offshore wind power bases, with Guangxi planning nine offshore wind farm zones totaling 23.5 million kilowatts of installed capacity. The new cross-sea power link provides a vital channel for integrating and transmitting this growing offshore wind power, paving the way toward the development of zero‑carbon islands.

Historic cross-sea project ends power grid isolation on south China island

Enterprises from the United States are welcome to seize the development opportunities in China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with the country, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said in Beijing on Sunday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with a delegation of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).

Noting that China-U.S. ties are the world's most important bilateral relations, He said it is hoped that the USCBC will continue to play its role as a bridge to promote friendly exchanges and the steady and healthy development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States.

It is also hoped that U.S. enterprises can fully seize the development opportunities in China, make good use of the potential of the Chinese market, and inject more stability and positive energy into China-U.S. economic and trade relations, He added.

Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the USCBC, Sean Stein, president of the USCBC, and other members from the delegation noted that the U.S. business sector is optimistic about China's economic development prospects. They expressed the willingness to further explore the Chinese market, play an active role, and continuously deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

U.S. enterprises are welcome to seize development opportunities in China: vice premier