“Go big or go home” seems to be the new mantra of China, as the country has shown the world what it is truly capable of regarding renewable energy. China has lifted a towering offshore giant taller than the Eiffel Tower, and this gigantic creation produces so much more than record energy. Some refer to it as a “world’s first,” and for good reason. As the country shares its results, we cannot help but wonder if going bigger is the future. Discover more about this towering offshore giant below.
A Chinese creation bigger than an iconic French monument
Michael Jordan once said, “Limits, like fear, are often an illusion.” Mankind has proven on countless occasions what is possible beyond our limitations, especially when it comes to man-made creations, such as the internet and electricity. Other man-made creations stand out for their scale, such as the Great Wall of China. Now, the Chinese have proven once again what can be achieved once we look beyond our limitations.
China has created a towering offshore giant reportedly taller than the Eiffel Tower (1,083 feet). What’s more, this creation will help establish the country as a leader in global research and development, as well as production and application in the renewable industry. Furthermore, this offshore giant is expected to produce record energy and has other mind-boggling benefits.
China’s offshore giant towers over the ocean
China Three Gorges and Goldwind have collaborated to construct and install record-breaking offshore technology in the Chinese coastal region of southern Fujian. The installation itself was specifically made 18 miles offshore in the Minnan region. This offshore giant has many firsts, as it is the first-of-its-kind developed in China specifically.
So, what is this towering, record-breaking offshore giant? It is none other than a 20 MW offshore wind turbine. The Chinese have been pushing for significant investment in wind energy, and plan on adding 120 GW of installed wind capacity per year from this year onwards. The 20 MW offshore turbine itself forms part of the National Key Research and Development Programme’s Renewable Energy Technology project.
China has shared the results of this gigantic offshore wind turbine, and they are truly something.
Producing so much more than record energy with these results
Let us begin with the specifications of this towering giant. The scale of its swept area is comparable to 10 typical football fields, and its height is comparable to a building that is 58 stories high. Its rotor is 300 meters in diameter, and one blade has a length of 147 meters. According to a report by Offshore Engineer, this installation set a new record for the “highest-rated offshore wind turbine” installed over the ocean.
Besides this new record, it also produces record energy. The predicted annual power output of the 20 MW offshore turbine is 80 million kWh. This amount of electricity is enough to power approximately 44,000 homes. Furthermore, it will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 64,000 tons and decrease coal consumption by almost 24,000 tons. It will also play a key role in future designs and installations.
“The offshore installation and operation of the 20-MW turbine will drive comprehensive upgrades across the entire offshore wind industry chain – from design and manufacturing to installation.” – Jiang Guangqiu, CTG Fujian branch deputy general manager and Fujian Offshore Wind Efficient Development and Utilization Engineering Research Center director.
Offshore wind installations are rapidly increasing in popularity and capacity, especially in regions where available land is very limited, and the need to transition to clean power to meet energy demands is extremely high. The data obtained from this 20 MW offshore wind turbine will help determine whether the future of wind energy lies within bigger installations. This is only the beginning, as another gigantic Chinese offshore wind turbine has shattered records over the ocean.
