China's first full-chain smart hub for marine power transmission begins construction in Zhoushan

The first marine pile has been driven for the supporting terminal of the Zhejiang Qiming Ocean Power Engineering Innovation Industrial Base in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. This marks the start of main marine construction for China's first intelligent "mother port" dedicated to the marine power transmission industry.

The hub integrates submarine cable design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, and industrial chain innovation, accelerating the development of deep-sea wind power and marine transmission engineering.

The first marine pile is driven for the supporting terminal of the industrial base in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Located in the Aoshan Island demonstration zone, the base is a key project under Zhejiang province's "thousand projects, trillion investment" initiative and its strategy to build a world-class port.

It includes a 20,000-metric-ton-class wharf and a trestle bridge. Upon completion, the terminal will be able to accommodate one 20,000-ton cable vessel and one 10,000-ton cargo ship simultaneously, along with four workboats along the rear channel.

The 69.8-mu (4.65-hectare) land facility will feature eight cable storage tanks, a stacking yard, a double-deck warehouse, and supporting infrastructure.

The goal is to create a smart hub covering logistics, technology application, equipment R&D, and talent training, significantly boosting China's submarine cable construction and maintenance capabilities.

The main marine construction of the base starts in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The project aligns with China's goals of carbon peaking, carbon neutrality, and the development of a new energy system.

As nearshore wind power nears saturation, expansion into deep-sea waters has become essential, and marine power transmission is critical for high-quality offshore wind development.

The base will address key infrastructure gaps in efficient deep-sea green power transmission and reliable maintenance, supporting the national target of over 100 million kilowatts of installed offshore wind capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period. It is also a flagship project for Zhejiang and Zhoushan, driving the marine economy and serving as a model of government-enterprise collaboration for a clean, low-carbon energy system.

Zhejiang Qiming Ocean Power Engineering, the only entity within the State Grid system equipped for large-scale submarine cable construction and capable of handling the full chain of laying, repair, and maintenance, leads the national marine power transmission brand "Guojiao No 1".

The smart mother port is a key initiative to enhance the brand’s construction and maintenance support for offshore wind and inter-island interconnection projects, strengthening its market competitiveness.

After commissioning, the base will collaborate closely with innovation platforms such as Donghai Laboratory and Zhejiang University's Ocean College.

It will focus on technological breakthroughs across the generation–transmission–storage–consumption chain, strengthen ties with upstream and downstream partners, and accelerate R&D of innovative equipment like remotely operated vehicles and unmanned surface vessels.

Ultimately, the hub is set to become a national innovation ecosystem for the marine power transmission industry, extending its influence to coastal nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and serving as a benchmark for new quality productive forces in the marine sector.