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China’s 20 MW Wind Turbine Prototype Experiences Blade Malfunction — Reports

Mingyang's 20 MW wind turbine blades broke during extreme testing in China, but no injuries occurred, says the company.

NOTE: The original article was updated following a statement from Mingyang Smart Energy.

Mingyang Smart Energy released a statement on December 13 after reports of two blades detaching from its 20 MW offshore wind turbine prototype in Hainan, China. The company stated the turbine was tested under extreme conditions, encountering “abnormal” circumstances exceeding design load limits.

Reports in China indicate that the incident occurred on December 6 on Mingyang’s MySE18.X-20MW prototype.

In an email to offshoreWIND.biz, Mingyang Smart Energy explained: “Recently, images have surfaced online related to the fracture of Mingyang wind turbine blades. These images show a newly developed prototype that Mingyang is testing at our large wind turbine test center in Lingao, Hainan. The turbine was being tested under extreme conditions, a process crucial to ensuring our models meet high standards and reliability. The product is still in the testing phase and has not yet been marketed or mass-produced. No harm occurred to personnel at the test site.”

The company shared the statement and further details on its social media on December 13, stating that extreme, abnormal conditions led to the blades exceeding their design load limit and fracturing.

“In innovative research, extreme testing on prototypes is necessary. We will continue in-depth research on the product’s adaptability to refine its functionality, ensuring superior, safer, and more reliable performance,” Mingyang added.

The company did not specify which prototype experienced blade failure.

Regarding the MySE 18.X-20 MW prototype, Mingyang produced the nacelle at its Shanwei base in December 2023 and installed the turbine at the onshore test site in August.

The company had announced it as the world’s largest single-capacity offshore wind turbine, with flexible power ratings from 18+ MW to 20 MW and rotor diameters from 260-292 meters.

With an average wind speed of 8.5 m/s, the model can generate 80 million kWh annually, offsetting 66,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the annual consumption of 96,000 households, according to previous information from the manufacturer.

Mingyang also indicated the turbine’s design is suitable for global deployment in medium-to-high wind speed regions, specifically for typhoon-prone areas, capable of withstanding winds up to 79.8 m/s.