In a significant milestone for China's offshore wind power industry, the world's first 16 MW offshore wind turbine was successfully installed at the Offshore Wind Farm of Pingtan, E China’s Fujian province on June 28 at 14:30 local time, according to a report by Fujian Daily. Once operational, it will become the largest offshore wind turbine in commercial operation worldwide. The installation marks a significant breakthrough in China's high-end equipment manufacturing and deep-sea offshore wind construction capabilities.

The 16 MW turbine is capable of generating over 66 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually,which is enough to power 36,000 households of three people for a year. It is estimated to save approximately 22,000 tons of standard coal and reduce CO2 emissions by around 54,000 tons.

This installation highlights the significant advancements made in key areas such as the wind turbine's main bearings, blades, and transmission chain. The turbine boasts a high localization rate and a high degree of digitization, making it the world's first 16 MW commercial demonstration unit with these features. The foundation of the turbine utilizes a four-pile guiding tube structure, with a hub center height of 152 meters, equivalent to the height of a 52-story building. The nacelle and generator assembly weigh a staggering 385 tons, equivalent to the weight of 190 off-road vehicles. The blades measure 123 meters in length, with a weight of 54 tons each, and the rotor sweep area spans approximately 50,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of seven standard football fields.

Following the successful installation, the turbine will undergo debugging and testing before being connected to the grid.

At the installation site on the same day, reporters witnessed the final adjustments being made to the third blade of the 16 MW turbine by the "Baihetan" vessel, the world's first 2,000-ton-class fourth-generation offshore wind power installation platform.

It is worth noting that China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) is one of the earliest central government-owned enterprises in China to engage in offshore wind power development. Its subsidiary, China Three Gorges New Energy, has already connected nearly 5 million kilowatts of offshore wind power to the grid, making it the leader in domestic offshore wind power installations.

The successful installation of the world's largest offshore wind turbine reflects China's commitment to expanding its clean energy capacity and achieving its environmental goals. It signifies a major stride in the nation's technological capabilities in the offshore wind sector, further establishing its position as a global leader in renewable energy.

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