A compact ultra-high voltage (UHV) testing system, independently developed in Hubei, central China, has been shipped to Dubai to facilitate offshore wind power projects.

The technology will be deployed in the BorWin6 flexible DC transmission project offshore converter station located approximately 200 km off the German North Sea coast. Scheduled for operation in 2027, the project uses converter valves entirely supplied by China, representing the entry of Chinese high-end DC transmission technology into Europe.

This marks Hubei’s UHV testing technology’s debut in the European market.

To address space constraints in offshore converter stations, the Hubei team developed a compact gas-insulated testing device over nearly two years. The new system occupies only five square meters—reducing the footprint by two-thirds compared to conventional equipment.

According to the project lead from the State Grid Hubei Electric Power Research Institute, this is the first such project undertaken by a Chinese team in a developed country, highlighting the international expansion of China’s UHV testing expertise.

The offshore converter station is currently being assembled in Dubai, with Hubei technicians scheduled to conduct on-site tests in February, providing ongoing technical support as the project advances.