Key Tips
Offshore Wind Power, Deep and Far Seas, 20 MW Turbine, Localization, Clean Energy
Technological Breakthrough: From ‘Nearshore’ to ‘Deep and Far Seas’
Recent achievements have been reported frequently in China’s offshore wind power sector. The world’s first 20 MW offshore wind turbine was successfully installed in the southern Fujian sea, located over 30 kilometers from shore and in waters deeper than 40 meters. This marks a crucial step in China’s development of deep-sea wind power.
- This turbine achieves full independent control across the entire industry chain, with 100% localization of key components.
- In terms of lightweight design, its weight per megawatt is less than 40 tons, over 20% lighter than the industry average, effectively reducing foundation construction costs.
At the same time, China has made breakthroughs in its deepest water project. The Huaneng Shandong Peninsula North L offshore wind farm was recently connected to the grid. Located approximately 70 kilometers from shore with water depths of 52 to 56 meters, it is currently China’s deepest commercial offshore wind project.
Innovative Applications: Technological Support Behind Overcoming Challenges
Faced with the complex geological and environmental challenges of deep and far seas, China’s wind power projects showcase multiple innovative technologies.
- The deep-water wind project on the Shandong Peninsula innovatively employs a four-pile jacket foundation structure, reaching up to 83.9 meters—the tallest of its kind in China—ensuring turbine stability in deep-sea conditions.
- During construction, the project utilized the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to develop high-precision positioning technology, achieving millimeter-level accuracy for seabed pile installation. Combined with intelligent assisted installation techniques, this reduced the installation time for a single deep-sea turbine foundation from 48 hours to 29 hours.
- In terms of turbine reliability, the 20 MW unit features a multi-dimensional safety warning system, ensuring autonomous and safe operation in unmanned offshore environments. For typhoon-prone areas, the turbine’s design includes simulations for 18 additional typhoon conditions beyond standard requirements. Experimental data show it can withstand extreme impacts from instantaneous wind speeds of up to 80 meters per second (equivalent to a Category 17+ typhoon).
Scale Benefits: The Economic Logic Driving Industry Development
The most direct benefit of larger turbines is a significant improvement in power generation efficiency.
- Once connected to the grid, the 20 MW unit is expected to generate over 80 million kilowatt-hours annually, enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of approximately 44,000 households, equivalent to saving about 24,000 tons of standard coal.
- From an economic perspective, compared to offshore wind farms using 16 MW turbines, the 20 MW unit can reduce the number of turbine positions by 25%, saving maritime space and lowering development costs.
China’s offshore wind power industry also benefits from clear policy guidance. According to national plans, during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period (2026–2030), China’s offshore wind power development is expected to accelerate, with annual new installations projected to be no less than 15 gigawatts.
Industry Future: Advancing into a Broader ‘Blue Ocean’
The global offshore wind industry is moving toward larger capacities and deeper waters.
- China’s Dongfang Electric Corporation has developed the world’s largest 26 MW offshore wind turbine with fully independent intellectual property rights. Under an average wind speed of 10 meters per second, a single unit can generate 100 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually.
- The economic viability of deep-sea wind power remains a focus for the industry. Analysis indicates that deep-sea projects face cost challenges:
- For every 20-meter increase in water depth, costs rise by 15–20%;
- For every 30-kilometer increase in distance from shore, engineering and operational efficiency decline by 30%.
To address this, Chinese wind power companies are committed to reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) through technological innovation. Goldwind’s 20 MW turbine, combined with an intelligent control system, can improve power generation efficiency by 5%, reducing the project’s LCOE by 5–8%.
As the massive blades of the 20 MW turbine slowly rotate along the Fujian coast, they carve not only through the air but also chart a new trajectory for China’s energy transition. From deep-water projects on the Shandong Peninsula to the world’s first 20 MW unit in Fujian waters, China’s offshore wind power landscape is rapidly expanding into deep-blue seas.
Under the blueprint of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” the annual new installation target for this blue frontier has been set at 15 gigawatts. The winds of the far seas are being transformed into clean electricity on an unprecedented scale, powering the nation’s green future.