State Grid Shanghai launches smart power protection 8.0 to secure 8th CIIE
State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company held a mobilization rally on October 30, signaling the start of full operational readiness for securing electricity supply during the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE). Over 200 personnel from 20 support units pledged to ensure secure and reliable electricity throughout the international event.
Building on its ongoing digital transformation, State Grid Shanghai has launched the upgraded "Panoramic Smart Power Supply Guarantee System 8.0." The system introduces a new "Four Proactives" operational model— emphasizing proactive maintenance, upgrades, repair, and service — creating a stronger and more intelligent safety net for the expo’s electricity infrastructure.
A key improvement this year is the shift toward intelligent, predictive operations. At the 110kV Zhuguang Substation, engineers used the system to monitor grid conditions in real time, verifying that all equipment is running smoothly and that potential issues -- such as vegetation encroachment spotted by drone patrols — are cleared promptly.
Under the "Proactive Maintenance" approach, the company has implemented a combined fixed and mobile drone inspection system. Drones take off and land automatically, can be dispatched remotely, and transmit live footage for analysis. Using adaptive recognition technology, they accurately detect risks such as overgrown trees — moving power inspections from a manual search for faults toward an intelligent early-warning system. “This shift in inspection mode represents a leap from ‘manual problem-hunting’ to ‘intelligent hazard reporting,’” noted Li Yaqing, an on-site engineer from the Operation and Inspection Department of State Grid Shanghai Qingpu Power Supply Company.
Inside the National Exhibition and Convention Center, the core CIIE venue, the smart power system incorporates digital twin simulations and AI-assisted decision-making. A comprehensive sensor network—including 6,013 data collection points, 98 partial discharge monitors, 15 transformer acoustic sensors, 5 ATS cabinet acoustic sensors, and 10 environmental monitoring devices—enables real-time health assessment and predictive diagnostics across all expo electrical equipment. “This allows us to detect and resolve hidden risks before they develop into failures,” said Wang Zichang, an on-site engineer from State Grid Shanghai Qingpu Electric Power Company.
Meanwhile, at a major substation supplying the exhibition center, a four-legged autonomous inspection robot named "Tianshu" patrols the facility, feeding data back to a smart inspection platform. Equipped with multi-modal sensing, it identifies component conditions and carries out specialized tasks such as partial discharge detection. Throughout the expo, Tianshu will remain on duty, helping ensure secure operations inside critical power facilities.
To achieve a "zero-defect" standard ahead of the expo, State Grid Shanghai carried out intensive checks on key sites — including the convention center, the World Meeting Hall, and riverside lighting zones — as well as vital transmission lines. The effort included 2,385 cable inspections covering 8,081 kilometers, 517 inspections of important substations, and the deployment of 1,520 inspection staff and 792 vehicle trips. In total, 191 defects or hidden risks were identified and resolved.
In line with the expo’s low-carbon goals, the event will again be powered entirely by green electricity. Approximately 8 million kWh of renewable energy — sourced through inter-provincial green power trading — will meet all electricity demand, marking the third straight year the CIIE has adopted 100% green power.
During the expo, 2,500 professional staff will be assigned to guard key sites and power lines, supported by more than 3,100 repair personnel and 891 emergency power vehicles on 24-hour standby — ensuring robust, multi-layered protection for this prominent international gathering.