On August 11, the offshore wind project in Rudong, Jiangsu, operated by China Three Gorges Renewables, has achieved a cumulative power generation of 10 billion kilowatt-hours. This is the first offshore wind farm in Asia to utilize flexible direct current (flexible DC) transmission technology, with a total installed capacity of 800 megawatts.
Located in the Huangshayang sea area of Rudong, the project includes the construction of Asia's first offshore flexible DC converter station. It was fully connected to the grid and began commercial operation in 2021. Flexible DC transmission can be likened to a "smart transmission aorta" for offshore wind power, capable of carrying large volumes of electricity over long distances while actively smoothing out the intermittent fluctuations of wind power to ensure stable grid integration.
As of now, the project has been operating safely and stably for over 1,600 days, with a equipment availability rate of 99.5%. Wang Xuefeng, deputy general manager of China Three Gorges Group's Jiangsu branch in Nantong, stated that the project faced challenges without prior experience to draw upon. Key issues resolved included maintaining stable operation of the ±400 kV flexible DC system, monitoring and maintaining long-distance submarine cables, and controlling power under heavy load conditions.
Compared to traditional AC transmission, the project has reduced transmission line losses by approximately 1.2 percentage points, cumulatively saving over 735 million yuan in transmission costs. As China's offshore wind development extends further into deep-sea areas, with increasing distances from shore and higher transmission capacities, the technical limitations of conventional AC transmission are becoming more apparent. Flexible DC technology, with its advantages of large capacity, low losses, and flexible control, is better suited to meet the transmission needs of deep-sea offshore wind power.
It is estimated that the 10 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity generated can meet the annual household electricity needs of about 4 million families, equivalent to saving 3 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 7.4 million tons, highlighting significant energy-saving and emission-reduction benefits.