in News
A series of wind turbines seen near Donghai Bridge on the outskirts of Shanghai, China.(Image credit: HECTOR RETAMAL via Getty Images)Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleSubscribe to our newsletter
An energy corporation has successfully positioned the globe’s largest single-unit floating offshore wind turbine along the coast of southern China.
The 16-megawatt apparatus, referred to as Three Gorges Pilot, was finalized in ocean zones too profound for a conventional fixed-bottom anchoring system near Yangjiang in Guangdong province. Company officials disseminated a declaration outlining the placement on May 3.
A new engineering feat
Developed by China Three Gorges (CTG) Corp., Three Gorges Pilot is a 16-megawatt turbine installed atop a semisubmersible platform. The rotor’s sweep measures 827 feet (252 meters), with the tip of the blade reaching over 886 feet (270 m) above the sea surface.
The Three Gorges design builds upon a turbine introduced last year by China Huaneng Group and Dongfang Electric Corp. Its primary enhancements are in the areas of structural and system engineering.
The new platform is engineered to withstand severe deep-ocean conditions, including waves exceeding 66 feet (20 m) and wind speeds up to 164 mph (264 km/h) — comparable to a Category 5 hurricane.
It incorporates an advanced mooring system that combines suction anchors, anchor chains, and robust polyester lines, along with ballast and monitoring systems, to maintain platform stability and prevent excessive movement, company representatives stated in a release.
The design also features several elements intended to help dissipate and distribute the forces from wind and water, thereby boosting the platform’s resilience and prolonging its operational lifespan.
Generating more energy
Engineers for Three Gorges integrated a 66-kilovolt dynamic subsea cable. This specialized underwater power conduit is designed to transmit high-voltage electricity while accommodating movement and flexure with the submersible platform.
Featuring a wave-like configuration, it is constructed with highly flexible conductors, fortified armor layers for tensile strength, and insulation and sheathing resistant to fatigue.
The majority of the turbine’s assembly took place onshore, at Tieshan Port in southern China. It was subsequently transported offshore and connected at its designated spot for evaluation. At its maximum operational capacity, the turbine is projected to produce approximately 44.65 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
For perspective, an average American household utilizes around 10,500 KWh of electricity each year, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration — suggesting the turbine could supply power to roughly 4,200 homes annually.
Related stories
- China tests world’s first megawatt-class flying wind turbine — it generated enough energy to power a house for 2 weeks
- China builds record-breaking floating wind turbine — it could change the face of renewable energy
- New water battery could last until the 24th century — and it can be safely discarded in the environment
This installation is significant not only for its magnitude but also for the integration complexities engineers successfully addressed: substantial rotor load, platform equilibrium, dynamic mooring, and offshore electrical connection.
Floating turbines present immense engineering challenges, as they must withstand continuous motion from waves and currents without compromising the performance of the drivetrain or blade proximity, while also enduring extreme maritime weather over extended service periods.
For regions with limited shallow continental shelves, initiatives like the Three Gorges Pilot could enable commercial-scale floating wind turbines in much deeper waters than fixed-bottom turbines can access or endure.
TOPICS
Sourse: www.livescience.com