The Haifeng Heart Offshore Power Station Gets Underway
A massive 44-meter-tall offshore electrical platform known as Haifeng Heart is currently being transported in China to serve offshore wind farms. The news was released on May 29. This eight-story steel structure weighs 25,000 tons and measures 85.5 meters in length and 82.5 meters in width. The platform was built by ZPMC, a Chinese state-owned heavy machinery manufacturer.
Haifeng Heart’s Energy Capabilities
Once operational, this energy hub will supply approximately six billion kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity each year. Its single-unit transmission capacity will reach 2,000 megawatts. Haifeng Heart will support the Three Gorges Yangjiang Qingzhou V and Qingzhou VII projects, which together have a total installed capacity of two gigawatts.
This project is the first to combine alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) transmission technologies within a single system. Wind turbines generate AC, but transmitting it over long underwater distances leads to significant energy losses. This is why offshore converter stations like Haifeng Heart are crucial for solving that problem and improving electricity transport efficiency. The station also boasts the world’s highest voltage for an offshore flexible DC transmission system, operating at ±500 kilovolts, while its submarine DC cables handle ±525 kilovolts.
According to a company press release, Haifeng Heart will support a centralized submarine cable transmission project for the Three Gorges Yangjiang Qingzhou V and Qingzhou VII offshore wind farms. Yan Bin, a senior specialist at ZPMC, stated that engineers used an integrated construction model, which involved transporting the entire system as a single unit and installing it while afloat. The project set six industry records, including a single-unit transmission capacity of 2,000 megawatts, further underscoring its significance in the renewable energy sector.
The distance from shore to access wind resources exceeds 100 kilometers, highlighting the importance of new technologies for efficiently harnessing wind energy in remote marine areas.
The Haifeng Heart project showcases China’s progress in renewable energy development, particularly in offshore wind power. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies for long-distance electricity transmission can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce losses, which is critical for ensuring the stability of the power grid.