Lần đầu tiên Việt Nam xuất khẩu sang châu Âu 4 công trình điện khổng lồ: Cao bằng tòa nhà 15 tầng, nặng tương đương 20 chiếc máy bay Boeing 777
On September 12, 2026, a milestone in Vietnam’s industrial history was officially marked as PTSC Mechanical & Construction (PTSC M&C), a subsidiary of the state-owned PetroVietnam, successfully handed over four massive offshore transformer stations. These structures, destined for the Baltica 2 offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Poland, represent the first time a Vietnamese enterprise has manufactured and exported such complex offshore wind infrastructure to the European market. This event signifies a strategic pivot for Vietnam’s heavy industry, showcasing its growing capability to integrate into the global renewable energy supply chain.
Technical Marvels of Engineering
The four offshore transformer stations are colossal pieces of infrastructure, often described as the "heart" of the offshore wind energy system. Standing at a height equivalent to a 15-story building and possessing a combined weight comparable to 20 Boeing 777 aircraft, these units are feats of modern engineering. Each transformer station boasts a capacity of 375 MW, totaling 1,500 MW for the entire project.
The primary function of these stations is to act as the nerve center for the wind farm. They collect the electrical energy generated by the 107 individual wind turbines scattered across the Baltic Sea, step up the voltage for efficient transmission, and feed the power into the national grid of Poland. Without these sophisticated substations, the massive energy output from the wind turbines could not be effectively harnessed or transported to the mainland.
A Chronology of the Project
The journey from concept to completion was a rigorous two-year process characterized by high technical standards and strict safety protocols. The timeline of this historic project highlights the efficiency and dedication of the Vietnamese workforce:
- June 2023: The consortium of Semco Maritime and PTSC M&C was awarded the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract. This agreement tasked the team with the complete lifecycle of the four transformer stations, ranging from initial design and material procurement to construction and final commissioning.
- November 27, 2024: The official "steel cutting" ceremony took place, signaling the start of the fabrication phase. This marked the beginning of a high-intensity period where over 16,000 tons of steel were processed and assembled into the complex structures.
- 2025–Early 2026: Throughout the construction phase, PTSC M&C utilized its Vung Tau shipyard, undertaking extensive land leveling, site preparation, and the installation of specialized equipment. The project reached its peak labor intensity, employing over 2,000 direct workers and 200 indirect staff members to meet the tight delivery schedule.
- April 2026: The project reached a significant safety milestone, clocking 5 million safe working hours without a single lost-time incident—an impressive achievement given the scale and complexity of the hazardous industrial environment.
- September 12, 2026: The formal handover ceremony occurred, celebrating the successful completion of all testing and technical verification.
Strategic Context: The Baltica 2 Project
The Baltica 2 offshore wind farm is a flagship renewable energy venture developed through a partnership between Ørsted (Denmark) and PGE (Poland). As one of the largest offshore wind projects in the Baltic region, it is a critical component of Poland’s transition toward a greener energy future. The project is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2027.
For Vietnam, the involvement in the Baltica 2 project is not merely a commercial success; it is a validation of the nation’s industrial capacity. By competing against established global players and successfully delivering complex infrastructure for a European client, PTSC M&C has demonstrated that Vietnamese manufacturing is capable of meeting the stringent standards required for international offshore renewable energy projects.
Broader Economic and Industrial Implications
The export of these transformer stations has several far-reaching implications for the Vietnamese energy sector and the wider economy:
- Industrial Diversification: Traditionally, the Vietnamese mechanical and construction sector, particularly within the oil and gas industry, has focused on domestic projects or oil-and-gas-specific infrastructure. This project proves that the skills, welding techniques, and project management expertise developed in the offshore oil sector are highly transferable to the burgeoning offshore wind industry.
- Global Supply Chain Integration: By securing an EPC contract for a European wind project, Vietnam has signaled its readiness to become a key node in the global energy transition supply chain. This is likely to attract further international investment and partnerships, as global developers look for reliable and cost-effective fabrication partners.
- Job Creation and Skill Upgrading: The sheer scale of the project required a massive influx of skilled labor and technical expertise. The experience gained by the thousands of workers involved will contribute to a more highly skilled workforce, capable of undertaking more complex technological projects in the future.
- Technological Competitiveness: The success of this project demonstrates that Vietnam can adhere to the high technical requirements of European energy regulators. The rigorous testing conducted at the Vung Tau shipyard before the handover ensured that the units meet the international standards required for operation in the harsh environment of the Baltic Sea.
A New Era for Renewable Energy Exports
The success of the PTSC M&C project sets a precedent. While Southeast Asian nations have historically been exporters of raw materials or labor-intensive consumer goods, this development shows a shift toward exporting high-value, high-technology industrial equipment.
Market analysts have noted that the global demand for offshore wind infrastructure is set to grow exponentially as countries scramble to meet net-zero carbon targets. With the successful delivery of the Baltica 2 transformer stations, Vietnam has effectively "opened the door" to this lucrative market. Future contracts for similar offshore structures could provide a consistent revenue stream for Vietnamese state-owned enterprises and private mechanical firms alike, provided they continue to invest in R&D and maintain high standards of occupational safety and environmental compliance.
Concluding Remarks
The handover of the four offshore transformer stations to the Baltica 2 project is a testament to the evolution of Vietnam’s industrial sector. By leveraging decades of expertise from the oil and gas industry and applying it to the challenges of renewable energy, Vietnam has successfully entered the European market. As the world continues to move toward a decarbonized energy future, the ability to manufacture, assemble, and test such critical infrastructure will be an invaluable asset. This project serves as a foundational success story, proving that Vietnam is not just a consumer of global energy technology, but a vital contributor to its production.
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