China connected the world’s first 20 megawatt offshore wind turbines to the power grid, setting a new global benchmark for clean energy technology.
The ultra-large turbine was commissioned in waters off southeast China’s Fujian Province, according to China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC), the project developer.
“This project shows that China has achieved a major breakthrough in offshore wind power,” a CTGC official said. “It proves our strength in turbine design, manufacturing, offshore construction, and long-term operation.”
The turbine is installed more than 30 kilometers from the coast, in waters deeper than 40 meters. It stands at an impressive scale. The hub height is 174 meters, roughly the height of a 58-storey building. Its rotor diameter measures 300 meters, and the swept area is comparable to nearly 10 standard football fields.
Under rated conditions, the turbine is expected to generate more than 80 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. This amount of power can meet the annual electricity needs of around 44,000 households.
The turbine will also help cut fossil fuel use by replacing about 22,000 tonnes of standard coal each year, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions.
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Engineers equipped the turbine with domestically developed airfoil blades. Advanced lightweight design and digital intelligent integration played a key role in improving performance. As a result, the weight per megawatt has been reduced by more than 20 percent compared with the industry average.
“This lighter and smarter design allows the turbine to capture wind more efficiently and generate more power,” the CTGC official said. “It also improves reliability in harsh offshore conditions.”
The project is seen as a critical step for China’s offshore wind industry as it moves into deeper waters and farther from shore, where wind resources are stronger and more stable. Operating at such distances and depths has long been a technical challenge for many countries.
Industry analysts claim the success of the 20-MW turbine could accelerate the global shift toward larger-capacity offshore wind units. Bigger turbines mean fewer installations are needed to produce the same amount of power, which can lower construction and maintenance costs over time.
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China is already the world’s largest market for wind power, both onshore and offshore. In recent years, the country has rapidly expanded its offshore wind farms along the eastern and southern coastlines as part of its broader push to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
The 20 MW turbine was installed as part of a Renewable Energy Technology project under the National Key Research and Development Programme. It was also chosen by the National Energy Administration as part of the fifth batch of major first-of-its-kind energy equipment.
With guidance and support from the National Energy Administration and the Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the project was jointly designed, built, and demonstrated by the Three Gorges Group and Goldwind Technology.
In offshore wind technology, China stands as a leader with this turbine commission. Apart from this, it offers vital equipment support and technical expertise for future deep-sea and far-offshore projects.
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Although the turbine is currently a single installation, its successful operation paves the way for the mass deployment of comparable high-capacity units in the years to come.
With this feather in its cap, China not only breaks the previous worldwide record for turbine size, but also shows that it intends to continue leading the way in renewable energy development.
