ZPMC Ships Haifeng Heart Offshore Converter Station

Why It Matters

The station dramatically expands China’s offshore wind capacity while slashing transmission losses, reinforcing the country’s carbon‑reduction roadmap and setting a new benchmark for large‑scale converter technology.

Key Takeaways

• ZPMC shipped the 2 GW Haifeng Heart, world’s largest offshore converter
• Platform weighs ~25,000 t, measures 85.5 m × 82.5 m × 44 m
• Uses ±500 kV flexible DC and first ±525 kV subsea cables
• Will supply ~6 billion kWh renewable electricity each year
• Supports Three Gorges Yangjiang Qingzhou V & VII wind farms

Pulse Analysis

China’s offshore wind ambitions have accelerated in recent years, driven by a need to meet aggressive carbon‑neutral targets and to tap high‑quality wind resources far from shore. Converter stations are the linchpin of this strategy, transforming variable AC output from turbines into high‑voltage DC for efficient long‑distance transmission. By reducing line losses and enabling connections over 100 km offshore, such stations make remote wind farms economically viable and help diversify the nation’s energy mix.

The Haifeng Heart platform pushes the envelope of converter technology. At 2 GW capacity, it dwarfs existing units and incorporates flexible ±500 kV DC operation alongside the world’s first ±525 kV subsea cables, promising higher power transfer with lower losses. Its modular, eight‑storey steel structure—85.5 m long, 82.5 m wide, 44 m tall, and 25,000 t in weight—was assembled on‑shore and floated to the site in a single unit, a process that cuts installation time and improves quality control. The integrated AC/DC design also streamlines the subsea cable network linking the Three Gorges Yangjiang Qingzhou V and VII farms.

For the industry, Haifeng Heart signals a shift toward ultra‑large, highly integrated offshore converter stations that can be replicated globally. ZPMC’s success demonstrates the viability of a turnkey model that combines on‑shore fabrication, single‑unit transport, and float‑over installation, potentially lowering capital expenditures for future projects. As other markets chase similar offshore wind growth, the technology and execution blueprint established here could become a new standard, accelerating the worldwide transition to clean, offshore‑generated electricity.