Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (a state-owned heavy equipment manufacturer) has completed the shipment of the topside module for what is being described as China's first lightweight integrated offshore substation, marking a significant milestone in the country's expansion of renewable energy infrastructure off its northern coast.

Project Overview and Strategic Significance

The topside module is destined for the Guodian Tangshan Leting Yuetuo Island Offshore Wind Farm Phase I project, located in North China. The wind farm covers a sea area of 34 square kilometers and carries a total installed capacity of 304 megawatts. The offshore substation supporting the project is designed with a capacity of 300 megawatts.

Once operational, the project is expected to help optimize North China's energy supply mix while supporting the region's broader push toward green and low-carbon industrial development. The substation has been designated a key offshore clean energy project for the region.

Engineering Scale and Construction Scope

The topside module is a three-story steel structure measuring 45 meters in length, 38 meters in width, and 23 meters in height, with a total weight of approximately 1,700 tonnes. The structure's dimensions and weight reflect the substantial engineering demands of deploying power infrastructure in open marine environments.

ZPMC held responsibility for the full scope of construction across the project's main structural components, covering not only the topside module but also the lower foundation jacket and the steel pipe piles. The company stated that it drew on its established expertise in offshore wind equipment fabrication to complete each stage of construction.

Logistics and Load-Out Operation

The shipment process demonstrated a high degree of operational efficiency. According to ZPMC, the entire operation from roll-on loading through to the completion of sea fastening took just four days. The announcement was made by the Shanghai-based company on August 10, 2026.

The speed of the operation reflects both the logistics planning involved in moving a structure of this scale and ZPMC's experience managing complex heavy-lift and marine transport operations.

Roll-on/roll-off loading methods are commonly employed for large offshore structures where crane lift limitations or vessel configuration make direct lifting impractical.

ZPMC's Role in China's Offshore Wind Sector

ZPMC, formally known as Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, has positioned itself as a central industrial player in China's offshore wind supply chain. The company's involvement across the full construction scope of the Yuetuo Island substation, from foundation piling to the completed topside module, illustrates the integrated manufacturing capabilities it brings to large-scale offshore energy projects.

The Yuetuo Island project adds to a growing portfolio of offshore wind infrastructure work carried out by ZPMC. Separately, the company has also recently held a keel-laying ceremony for the second Service Operation Vessel it is constructing for a French client, indicating continued expansion across multiple segments of the offshore energy services market.

China's Offshore Substation Development

The designation of the Yuetuo Island substation as China's first lightweight integrated offshore substation points to a design approach intended to reduce the overall mass of the structure relative to its power handling capacity.

At approximately 1,700 tonnes for a 300-megawatt installation, the topside module represents an engineering configuration that project developers and grid operators are likely to examine closely as offshore wind capacity continues to scale up along China's coastline.

North China's offshore wind development has gained momentum as regional governments seek to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on coal-fired generation.

The Guodian Tangshan Leting project, situated off the coast of Hebei Province's Leting County near Yuetuo Island, contributes to that transition by bringing utility-scale renewable generation capacity to a region with significant industrial energy demand.

The commissioning timeline for the wind farm was not specified in the announcement, though the shipment of the substation topside module represents one of the later-stage fabrication milestones before offshore installation and final commissioning can proceed.

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