Construction of the topside module for the offshore substation

On February 10, 2020, our company entered into a construction contract with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (Tianjin) Offshore Wind Power Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Tianjin Offshore Engineering”) for the fabrication of the 220 kV offshore booster substation and the steel structure of the jacket foundation for the CSSC Dalian Zhuanghe Offshore Wind Farm Site II (300 MW) project.

The CSSC Dalian Zhuanghe Offshore Wind Farm Site II (300 MW) project is located in the waters off Zhuanghe, Dalian City, Liaoning Province. It corresponds to Site II in the “Dalian Offshore Wind Farm Engineering Planning Report” and lies to the west of the planned Site III. The wind farm is situated approximately 11 km east of Shicheng Island. Its northern boundary follows the 10-meter depth contour, while its eastern side is about 1.5 km from the navigation channel, and its western side is more than 5 km from the Haiwangjiu Island Marine Protected Area. The site extends roughly 10.3 km from north to south and 5.8 km from east to west, covering a total area of approximately 59.4 km², with nearly 48 km² of marine area. The center of the site is about 19.1 km from the coastline, and the installed capacity is 300 MW.

This time, the construction scope of Jinzhong includes three parts: the topside module of the offshore booster station, the jacket foundation of the offshore booster station, and the pile foundation. The topside module adopts a modular design, divided into four modules: Module 1 is the structural transition floor module; Module 2 is the GIS and relay protection room module; Module 3 is the No. 1 main transformer and switchgear module; and Module 4 is the No. 2 main transformer and switchgear module. The outfitting of the topside module, as well as the procurement and installation of water supply, drainage, fire-fighting, and HVAC equipment, along with testing and commissioning, are also within Jinzhong’s scope of work.

In 2020, the sudden outbreak of the pandemic severely impacted the construction schedule of the project. Nevertheless, to ensure timely completion, all parties on site actively addressed the multiple challenges posed by COVID‑19. Despite the short construction timeline and tight labor resources, they spared no effort to smoothly accomplish each milestone. In response to the actual construction conditions, the company’s project leadership team promptly formulated a practical accelerated‑construction plan, increased staffing across various roles, maintained continuous operations without pausing equipment, and implemented 24‑hour shift work. With additional workers deployed, thorough technical and quality briefings were conducted before each process, minimizing idle time and boosting efficiency. At the same time, management of on-site personnel was strengthened, and those who demonstrated diligence and outstanding performance were rewarded, thereby enhancing their sense of responsibility and motivation, ensuring construction quality, and meeting the project deadline. Currently, thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties involved in Jinzhong, the jacket and pile foundations of the offshore booster substation have been completed, with plans to tow them onto the vessel by September 20 this year—achieving the expected goals and earning unanimous praise from the client. Furthermore, the topside module of the offshore booster substation is scheduled for delivery before the end of November this year.

China’s offshore wind power is currently experiencing its fastest period of growth in history. The country has already become the world’s largest wind power producer. Today, wind energy has emerged as the nation’s third-largest primary power source, trailing only thermal and hydropower. With vast development potential and significant room for expansion, China’s offshore wind sector plays a crucial role in advancing a secure, clean, and efficient transformation of the national energy mix.

Zhuanghe City boasts 2,900 square kilometers of marine territory and abundant offshore wind resources, making it well-suited for offshore wind power development. In recent years, the city has prioritized the growth of clean energy industries, including offshore wind power. Following several years of concerted efforts by the Zhuanghe Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, by the end of December 2019, all six wind farms previously planned in Zhuanghe’s waters had received approval, with a mandate to complete construction and connect to the grid within a few years. Across China, offshore wind power projects are vigorously underway in Jiangsu Province, Fujian Province, Shandong Province, Guangdong Province, Zhejiang Province, Shanghai Municipality, Hebei Province, and Hainan Province.

Jinzhong Company enjoys a unique geographical advantage, highly skilled personnel, and powerful equipment resources in the fabrication of booster stations, jacket structures, and pile tubes for wind power projects. This successful collaboration with Tianjin Offshore Engineering is of great significance: it not only marks Jinzhong’s first achievement in manufacturing offshore wind power equipment, but also plays a crucial role in advancing the company’s industrial restructuring and transformation.