On Wednesday, China successfully connected the world’s largest offshore wind turbine in Fujian Province to the grid to start generating electricity and marking a significant renewable energy milestone.
According to the China Three Gorges Corporation, the company in charge of the wind turbine at the Fujian offshore wind farm, the turbine has the largest single-unit generating capacity of all turbines in operation worldwide.
The turbine, whose blades measure 123 metres, is a product of wind turbine maker Goldwind Technology and was successfully installed on 29 June 2023.
“The 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine is a breakthrough in the core technology of the offshore wind power industrial chain, and it will boost the sustainable development of the country’s offshore wind power industry,” said the China Three Gorges Corporation chairman, Lei Mingshan.
The Structure of the Giant Wind Turbine Explained
The wind turbine blades are 123 meters long and have a coverage capacity of up to 50,000 square meters, equivalent to seven soccer fields.
Other structural aspects of the 16-megawatt wind turbine include a 152-meter hub, a 252-meter (827 feet) impeller diameter, and is the world’s lightest per megawatt weight.
According to Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), the turbine’s impressive dimensions have immense potential for harnessing wind energy, where a single 16 MW turbine can generate 34.2 kWh of clean electricity per revolution and generate over 66 million kilowatt-hours annually.[1]
Approximately 36,000 families with three people each will be able to get all the electricity they need from this huge output.
Achieving such a spectacular feat of clean energy production entails saving around 22,000 tonnes of conventional coal and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering 54,000 tonnes.
China’s offshore wind power industry is set to significantly impact sustainable development, with its impressive scale and capacity showcasing its commitment to tackling the global climate crisis.
This progress exemplifies China’s commitment to transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.
References
- Xinhua, ‘16 MW offshore wind turbine begins operations off east China coast’, 19 July 2023, https://english.news.cn/20230719/d7fb206fc163496a9f05e00047db71db/c.html[↩]
