World’s Largest Offshore Converter Station “Heart of the Sea Breeze” Installed in Guangdong

The world’s largest offshore converter station, “Heart of the Sea Breeze”, has been successfully installed in the waters off Yangjiang, Guangdong Province. The milestone was completed at 14:18 on 4 June after nearly seven hours of precision operations, as the semi-submersible vessel Xiangtai Kou manoeuvred the massive structure into exact alignment with its jacket foundation.

The installation marks a landmark achievement in global offshore wind infrastructure. The facility comprises an upper module and a lower jacket. The seven-storey steel-framed upper block measures 85.5 metres in length, 82.5 metres in width and 44 metres in height, with a weight of approximately 25,000 tonnes. The supporting jacket is 82 metres long, 57 metres wide and 69 metres high, weighing around 17,000 tonnes. Eight main legs connect the jacket to the upper structure via eight leg mating units and eight insert tips, ensuring structural stability.

Given the station’s extraordinary weight, far exceeding the lifting capacity of domestic cranes, the project team deployed the advanced float-over installation method. This technique combines tidal forces and dynamic positioning systems to guide the upper module into place with a clearance of just 150 millimetres on each side. Rubber fenders and leg mating units absorb impact during the final stage, enabling precise connection between insert tips and foundation legs.

Located more than 70 kilometres from the coast, the site presented harsh marine conditions, including strong winds, powerful currents, heavy salt spray and frequent typhoons. To identify a viable installation window, the team cross-referenced multiple meteorological forecasts, confirming 4 June as the optimal date. Operations began at approximately 07:00, with environmental parameters kept within design limits throughout.

Upon full operation, the facility will form the core of the world’s highest-voltage, largest-capacity offshore wind flexible DC transmission project. It will supply around 6 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, offsetting nearly 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The project sets a new benchmark for large-scale offshore renewable energy infrastructure. It demonstrates advanced engineering capabilities and supports the region’s transition to low-carbon power.