ABB has filed a patent for a subsea power collection system featuring a distributed transformer arrangement, according to information from the National Intellectual Property Administration. The application (CN121713347A) was submitted in March 2024 by ABB Switzerland Ltd.

The invention describes a power collection system designed to aggregate electricity from multiple offshore generation units. The system includes a three-phase subsea grid and a subsea power substation connected to a shared power output point.

The subsea substation is configured to connect to downstream power consumers and incorporates three single-phase transformers. Each transformer is housed in an individual casing designed to rest on the seabed and be independently lifted to the surface for maintenance or replacement.

Each phase of the power output is connected to the primary side of a corresponding single-phase transformer, enabling modular and distributed power conversion at sea.

The design aims to improve flexibility, simplify offshore maintenance, and enhance reliability in harsh marine environments, particularly for offshore renewable energy applications.