Nation's 1st modular 500-kV substation online

China's first fully modular 500-kilovolt ultrahigh voltage substation recently began operations in Fucun township, Jinhua, Zhejiang province.

The Pancun village substation was completed in just 14 months by employing an innovative construction method that combines prefabricated assembly with intelligent systems — a process described as akin to "building with blocks", said its major constructor State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power.

Over 80 percent of the substation's modular components, including the steel-structured control room and firewalls, were prefabricated off-site and assembled directly on location. The approach has reduced the construction timeline by four months compared to traditional methods, cut high-above-ground work risks by 50 percent and minimized dust pollution, reinforcing a commitment to environmental sustainability, according to the builder.