World's largest smart transformer to power 1,472-mile energy line

China has developed the world’s largest smart transformer, a 750-megavolt-ampere (MVA) flexible direct current (DC) transformer designed to transmit 36 billion kWh of clean energy annually across the country’s longest high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line. This innovation addresses critical grid stability issues caused by fluctuating renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which led to near disruptions in China’s electricity network last year. The transformer converts alternating current (AC) into steady DC for efficient long-distance transmission and allows rapid adjustment of power flows to manage frequency variations, enhancing grid reliability amid heavy renewable integration. The transformer features advanced technologies such as fiber-optic temperature sensors and magnetic field management to reduce energy loss and withstand extreme conditions, including lightning strikes and rapid AC/DC switching. It will be installed on a 2,370-kilometer (1,472-mile) west-to-east transmission route from Gansu to Zhejiang, facilitating the transfer of renewable energy from resource-rich western