International Standard for UHV AC Substation Maintenance Led by China Released

It has been learned from China Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd. that recently, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) officially issued the international standard **IEC TS 63042-401:2026 *UHV AC Transmission Systems – Part 401: Substation Maintenance***, led and developed by the Institute. This standard establishes, for the first time, a full-chain technical specification covering everything from maintenance requirement identification to implementation, marking that the maintenance technology for UHV AC substations worldwide has entered a new stage of systematization and standardization.

It is understood that the standard was formally approved and initiated in 2022 by IEC TC 122, the Technical Committee for UHV AC Transmission Systems. A number of experts from China, Japan, Switzerland, India and other countries participated in its development. The standard systematically puts forward standardized requirements for substation maintenance at various stages and defines eight key factors affecting maintenance, including design, spare parts, and maintenance plans. For 11 types of core equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers and disconnectors, it specifies detailed maintenance methods, intervals and technical requirements, filling a technical gap in the operation and maintenance of UHV AC substations.

According to introductions, as power transmission and transformation facilities with the world’s highest voltage level and largest capacity, the operation and maintenance level of UHV AC substations is directly related to the improvement of power grid reliability. The release of this standard provides a scientific basis for the operation and maintenance of UHV AC substations worldwide, and is of great significance for enhancing the reliability of UHV AC systems and reducing power outage losses. Chinese experience and a number of China’s technical requirements have been incorporated into the standard clauses, providing a “Chinese solution” for the safe operation of the global power system. This fully demonstrates China’s international leadership in the field of UHV technology and lays a solid foundation for the international promotion of China’s UHV technologies.

Source: Science and Technology Daily Author: Hua Ling