Powering spring tea production with electrical upgrades to boost rural revitalization

As spring blossoms, the tea harvest in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province is booming. On April 14, staff members from the State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company visited Xiufeng Tea Factory in Xinsanlian village, Zhangzhen town, Shangyu district, Shaoxing city, to carry out an inspection and offer their services.

They inspected the electric equipment used for tea processing, such as withering machines, rolling machines and drying machines and conducted special patrols on the factory's power line equipment to ensure the safety of the entire procedure of tea processing including withering, rolling and drying.

Xiufeng Tea Factory has 33.3 hectares of tea gardens, focusing on varieties such as Wuniuzao and Yingshuang. It has a fully electrified tea production line serving tea farmers in Xinsanlian village and other nearby villages, which is engaged in centralized tea procurement, mechanized processing and initial distribution.

With the arrival of the spring tea harvest season, there is a high demand for electricity in the various processing procedures. The State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company attaches great importance to serving the development of the local tea industry. In 2022, the company increased the capacity of the Xiufeng Tea Factory's connection to the Gaolangdian substation in Xinsanlian village from 200 to 400 kilovolt-ampere and upgraded the line's carrying capacity by replacing the conductors. This upgrade provided stable electricity to the tea enterprise, which has greatly enhanced the power reliability for users in the area.

On the same day, workers used infrared thermometers, ultrasonic testing equipment and other devices to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the tea factory's internal wiring, equipment branch switches and four sets of tea-making equipment, focusing on aging and insulation damage in the lines. They identified and rectified two instances of loose connections.

Considering the terrain around the tea garden, they conducted special patrols on nearby low-voltage lines and cleared three obstacles such as tree branches and bamboo. Additionally, they provided the tea factory manager with safety manuals. After listening to the electricity needs during the tea season, they suggested adjusting energy usage times to stagger peak demand and made efforts to reduce energy costs.

"By the end of March, it will be the peak period for electricity usage. Thank you for helping us inspect the equipment and wiring, allowing us to use electricity conveniently," said Yan Zhixiao, the manager of Xiufeng Tea Factory.

The State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company said it will continues to focus on key aspects such as ensuring power supply and providing high-quality services, promoting the continuous improvement of service levels in the supply area and offering more reliable and high-quality power protection for tea farmers and tea enterprises, thereby supporting rural revitalization and the development of people's livelihoods and the economy.