China Three Gorges (CTG) Corporation has finished installing a 16 MW floating offshore wind turbine, the world’s largest single-unit floating wind turbine platform, off Yangjiang, Guangdong.
The Sanxia Linghang (Three Gorges Pilot) platform was installed on 2 May in waters over 70 kilometres offshore at depths beyond 50 metres, marking a significant advancement in deep-sea floating wind technology.
In China, numerous companies are competing to launch large-capacity floaters. In 2024, Mingyang Smart Energy installed a 16.6 MW floating wind platform at the Qingzhou IV offshore wind farm in Yangjiang. Mingyang’s OceanX is a dual-turbine platform with two MySE8.3-180 hybrid drive turbines. Last year, CRRC tested its 20 MW Qihang prototype in Shandong Province.
CTG states its platform is built for harsh offshore conditions, enduring wave heights above 20 metres and wind speeds of up to 73 m/s.
The Three Gorges Pilot comprises a 16 MW turbine, a semi-submersible floating foundation, and a novel mooring system. It measures approximately 80.8 metres long and 91 metres wide, with a displacement of 24,100 tonnes. The turbine’s 252-metre rotor diameter covers a swept area akin to seven football fields, with a blade tip height of over 270 metres.
The project integrates innovative technologies, such as a new mooring system, an active ballast system, a smart monitoring system, and a 66 kV dynamic subsea cable.
The floater is anchored by nine suction anchors, combining anchor chains with high-performance polyester mooring lines, marking the first use of such cables in China’s offshore wind sector. CTG mentions the introduction of an active ballast system as a debut in the sector.
Power transmission employs a domestically developed 66 kV dynamic cable with a wave-shaped design and protective measures for safe operation in complex sea conditions.
Offshore installation was facilitated by China’s first integrated deep-sea wind installation vessel, Wudongde, which executed crucial lifting and mooring tasks. The floater was assembled in Beihai and towed to the site, arriving on 20 April with mooring hook-up completed by 1 May.
The project continues the earlier deployment of the Sanxia Yinling (Three Gorges Leader) floating wind unit, initiated in 2021.
The developer claims the new platform delivers nearly triple the capacity of its predecessor, cutting cost per kilowatt by over 50% and achieving full localization of key equipment. Once operational, the Three Gorges Pilot turbine is expected to produce about 44.65 GWh of electricity annually, powering roughly 24,000 households.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz