The 220 kV substation at the Gangcheng Intelligent Manufacturing Big Data Industrial Park in Leyu township, Suzhou city, East China's Jiangsu Province successfully began transmitting power on May 25.

As a major project in Suzhou, the industrial park was developed by Gangcheng Yunlian (Suzhou) Data System Co, Ltd with an investment exceeding 8 billion yuan ($1.11 billion). The park's planned computing capacity surpasses 350 megawatts, and once fully operational, it will rank among the largest and most advanced data industry centers in the Yangtze River Delta.

State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company proactively engaged with the developer to understand its power demand. The company proposed to build a new 220 kV substation with an additional power capacity of 480,000 kVA. Staff conducted multiple on-site investigations and tailored a dual power supply solution.

The original plan involved constructing 50 new towers and laying 12.19 kilometers of transmission lines, with completion scheduled for December 2025. As the project qualified for a government-enterprise cost-sharing initiative, the utility facilitated the enterprise in benefiting from the "zero investment" policy for power access projects outside the red line, saving more than 100 million yuan in connection costs.

In October 2024, Gangcheng Yunlian signed a cooperation agreement with a leading domestic internet company, requiring the 220 kV line to deliver power seven months earlier than planned. "We designed a temporary transition plan, borrowing existing lines from Shagang Group to connect with the company's new lines," said Luo Jie, a staff member at State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company. "This reduced connection time by nearly 60 percent, meeting the company's early power demand while keeping the external construction on track for year-end completion."

The transition plan was completed on May 18, and power was successfully delivered on May 25. With this milestone achieved, the project's most significant challenge has been resolved. It is reported that upon full completion and production launch, the industrial park is expected to generate annual revenue exceeding 2 billion yuan, making a significant contribution to the region's economic growth.