Case Studies

Tel: +44 (0) 0845 168 6000 Email: info@bpienergy.com

Distribution Network Planning in China


The Shandong Electric Power Corporation (SEPCO), on behalf of the State Corporation of China, appointed BPI to review its approach to electricity distribution network planning and to review its 11th 5 year Distribution Plan. Central to SEPCO’s objective was to understand the approach to distribution planning used in the UK and throughout Europe, and to consider the application of operational practices and planning standards used on western distribution networks. Until recently, state secrecy policy had left Chinese power companies somewhat isolated from the West, in terms of sharing best-practice engineering approaches. This project was evidence of China’s new desire to become less inward-looking, and BPI was considered to have the international electricity distribution experience from which they could benefit.
We appointed a core team of 3 experts, who between them had over 100 years experience within the planning and operational functions of UK electricity distribution companies. The first part of the project was delivered in China, where the team reviewed the following areas of distribution practice:

  • Process and methodology for distribution planning;
  • Integration of distribution planning with city planning;
  • Planning principles;
  • Load-forecasting methods and associated software;
  • Recommendation of appropriate voltage levels;
  • Transmission and distribution network configuration;
  • Ratio of load to capacity;
  • Neutral earthing arrangements, reactive compensation, short circuit capacity and voltage quality;
  • Facilities of power supply - site selection, planning laws and other regulations;
  • Protection planning, dispatching automation planning, communications network planning;
  • Investment and economic evaluation; and
  • Organisational structure.


The approach in China was 2-fold: we gave a comprehensive presentation of how each of the above issues are addressed in UK and European distribution companies, backing up the facts presented with a number of practical anecdotes and real-life examples. Secondly, we reviewed SEPCO’s 11th 5 year Distribution Plan, and made recommendations for improvement and change, based on the new ideas we’d introduced from our western experience.
When SEPCO representatives visited the UK, for the second part of the project, BPI arranged further tutorials and discussion groups, using experts in a number of key areas to cover issues including asset management, regulation; HR and finance. We also organised visits to three UK distribution companies, as well as one in Spain and one in Portugal, covering visits to control centres, substations and planning and design functions.
SEPCO gained considerable experience in western approaches to all aspects of distribution engineering practice, and as a result of the project, were able to make significant improvements to their 5 year Distribution Plan, both in terms of financial savings as well as network performance improvement. They were also able to make a number of changes to their planning standards, asset specifications and operational practices.

* Please note that we maintain commercial confidentiality regarding work undertaken for customers. While we will be happy to deal with any questions about these case studies, please understand that there may be strict limits to what further information will be disclosed.