云南首个氢电耦合示范项目在昆明并网投产Yunnan's first hydrogen-electric coupling demonstration project has been connected to the grid and put into operation in Kunming

On October 20, Yunnan Province's first 'hydrogen-electric coupling' demonstration project officially connected to the grid and started production in Fubao Community, Guandu District, Kunming. The project was funded and constructed by the Kunming Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid.

The project is located on Fubao Peninsula, the largest peninsula along the shore of Dianchi Lake. The installation is directly connected to the low-voltage lines of Fubao Village and highly integrates core equipment such as proton exchange membrane electrolyzers, solid-state hydrogen storage devices, and combined heat and power modules of fuel cells.

The project innovatively adopts 'electric-hydrogen-electric' bidirectional conversion technology: during the day, excess photovoltaic electricity is used to electrolyze water to produce green hydrogen, which is safely and densely stored through solid-state hydrogen storage technology; during peak electricity demand or rainy days, the fuel cells convert hydrogen energy into electricity and heat to supply externally.

The equipment operates in long-term cycles, which can effectively stabilize the fluctuations of renewable energy output, ensure stable grid operation, and achieve cross-seasonal and long-cycle adjustment of clean energy. At the same time, Fubao Village brings together three new power system elements: low-voltage interconnection, intelligent IoT monitoring, and hydrogen energy storage demonstration, realizing seasonal adjustment of 'producing hydrogen in the off-season and generating electricity in the peak season,' and establishing a zero-carbon microcycle of 'green electricity–green hydrogen.'

At present, Kunming Fubao Village is accelerating its transformation into the “Peninsula Reception Hall” of Dianchi Lake and a benchmark for the integration of agriculture, culture, health, and tourism. Key cultural and tourism projects such as homestays and commercial streets have been successively established, and about 40% of the village's residents have transformed their businesses to operate homestays and commercial enterprises, leading to a continuous rise in electricity demand.

Wang Qiang, Head of Intelligent Distribution Network Planning and New Energy Services at the Planning and Development Department of Kunming Power Supply Bureau, introduced that during the project construction period, the Fubao Peninsula will deeply integrate the electric grid with communication networks and other infrastructure, coordinating the advancement of multi-network integration, energy interconnection, and low-carbon management to create a green new power grid collaboratively managed by government and enterprises.

To meet the development needs of the Fubao Peninsula, Kunming Power Supply Bureau has adopted a government-enterprise coordination model of “government builds the channels, power supply bureau installs the equipment.” In this area, 9 new or renovated box-type substations are planned, with a total capacity that can increase to 15,440 kVA. The project will simultaneously implement medium-voltage network optimization and low-voltage transparency renovations to build a robust ring-shaped power supply structure; low-voltage interconnection devices and intelligent IoT switches will be deployed in transformer stations, enabling second-level fault transfer and comprehensive distribution network perception.

After the project is put into operation, it will comprehensively improve the reliability and capacity of power supply on the Fubao Peninsula, providing a green and solid energy guarantee for the high-quality development of the local cultural and tourism industry.

[Source: Yunnan Kunming Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid]

[Edited by: Xiao Neng]