The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Direct-Drive Floating Offshore Wind Turbine

The world’s most powerful direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine, rated at 17 MW and co-developed by Dongfang Electric Corporation and China Huaneng, has been rolled out in China. This groundbreaking achievement signifies a significant milestone in China’s offshore wind power industry.

With the highest single-unit capacity and the largest rotor diameter globally, this turbine sets a new standard in offshore wind technology. The rotor diameter spans an impressive 262 meters, covering a swept area of about 53,000 square meters, equivalent to 7.5 standard football fields. Standing tall at a hub height of approximately 152 meters, the turbine’s size is comparable to a 50-story residential building.

What sets this turbine apart is its superior motion adaptability, enabling it to maintain power generation even under extreme platform tilts. With a time availability rate exceeding 99%, this turbine is designed to withstand waves over 24 meters high and survive Category 17 super typhoons.

Key components such as blades, generator, converter, and transformer are fully localized, showcasing China’s capabilities in manufacturing high-quality wind power equipment. The turbine also boasts domestically produced large-diameter main shaft bearings, further demonstrating the country’s self-reliance in the renewable energy sector.

According to Dongfang, the R&D team overcame significant challenges in high-precision manufacturing and assembly of blades and low-speed permanent magnet direct-drive motors. Their innovative approach led to the development of a high-capacity, high-reliability direct-drive wind turbine, paving the way for technological advancements in China’s wind power industry chain.

This impressive turbine is projected to generate 68 million kWh of clean electricity annually, meeting the energy needs of approximately 40,000 households. The next phase involves demonstration and validation deployment to further validate its performance and efficiency.

Overall, the unveiling of this direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine represents a significant leap forward in China’s renewable energy goals and underscores the country’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.