HD Hyundai Electric ships Korea's first transformer, reactor to European offshore wind farm

Offshore substation departs Vung Tau for the Baltic Sea

Transformer, reactor bound for Baltica 2 project

Maritime gear held to higher reliability standards than land-based equipment

Delivery milestone demonstrates global project execution capability

An offshore substation carrying HD Hyundai Electric's 275kV-class transformer and shunt reactor sets sail for the Baltica 2 offshore wind project in Poland's Baltic Sea. [HD Hyundai Electric LinkedIn]

"An offshore substation bound for the Baltic Sea — a new departure toward the European offshore wind market."

HD Hyundai Electric has become the first South Korean power equipment maker to ship a large offshore substation to a European offshore wind farm.

According to HD Hyundai Electric's official LinkedIn account, an offshore substation equipped with the company's 275kV-class transformer and shunt reactor left the PTSC M&C yard in Vung Tau, Vietnam, and is now en route to a site in Poland's Baltic Sea. It marks the first time a Korean power equipment company has delivered a transformer and shunt reactor aboard an offshore substation destined for a European offshore wind complex.

Having entered the European offshore wind market, HD Hyundai Electric has now demonstrated its ability to manufacture and deliver core power equipment on a global project. According to the LinkedIn post, a sail-away ceremony was held Saturday at the PTSC yard in Vung Tau, Vietnam, attended by key representatives from Danish energy company Orsted, Semco Maritime and HD Hyundai Electric.

The 275kV-class transformer and shunt reactor aboard the substation will be used in the Baltica 2 project, located roughly 40 kilometers off the Polish coast. Baltica 2 is a large-scale offshore wind development being jointly developed by Orsted and Polish state-owned power company PGE.

A 275kV-class transformer supplied by HD Hyundai Electric is installed aboard an offshore substation destined for the Baltica 2 offshore wind project in Poland. [HD Hyundai Electric]

An offshore substation is a critical facility that collects electricity generated by offshore wind turbines and transmits it to the onshore grid. It steps up the voltage to levels suitable for long-distance transmission and sends the power ashore via subsea cables. The transformer supplied for this project boosts wind-generated electricity to high voltage for long-distance transmission, while the shunt reactor reduces unwanted voltage fluctuations to ensure stable power delivery.

As large-scale offshore wind farms multiply, the importance of power equipment capable of reliably feeding electricity into onshore grids continues to grow. Offshore wind power equipment must operate for extended periods in harsh marine environments — enduring salt, humidity, vibration and temperature swings. Once installed, access for maintenance is limited, making such equipment subject to higher reliability and quality standards than comparable land-based installations.

HD Hyundai Electric said delivering its 275kV-class transformer and shunt reactor — capable of withstanding those operating conditions — further demonstrates its technological and product competitiveness in the offshore wind sector. As the first Korean power equipment company to reach the on-site delivery stage of a European offshore wind project, the company is expected to accelerate its push into global markets.

"The Baltica 2 project is an important showcase of HD Hyundai Electric's technological capability and product competitiveness in the European offshore wind market, where high reliability is paramount," a company official said. "We will continue to strengthen our technological edge in offshore wind and clean energy."

keg@heraldcorp.com