China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) and Xinjiang Goldwind Sci & Tech Co., Ltd. have announced an impressive milestone in the wind energy sector: a world-leading 16-megawatt wind turbine with the longest impeller diameter ever produced.
Chinese Companies are Claiming that the New Technology can Generate Enough Electricity to Power 36,000 Households Annually
This collaboration between the two companies is a major step forward in the development of high-quality wind equipment, and it proves that China is at the forefront of the global wind industry. The CTG and Goldwind turbine has five 50,000-meter-swept areas, sufficient to generate the electricity needed to power 36,000 households yearly.
According to the story by Interesting Engineering, this new turbine will help immensely power homes and save 22,000 tonnes of standard coal and 54,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. This per-unit capacity turbine has a 480-foot (146-meter) hub, the lightest weight per megawatt, and the longest impeller diameter of 827-foot (252 meters).
Chairman of CTG Say the Turbine Marks a Historical Milestone When It Comes to Offshore Wind Power Equipment
Lei Mingshan, chairman of CTG, declared that introducing such a turbine marks a historical milestone in developing global offshore wind power equipment. A sign of Chinese progress, the roll-out of this turbine follows the call made by Chinese authorities for the independent growth of cutting-edge technology that is in grade with international standards.
Mingshan believes it represents a new benchmark for the global offshore wind power equipment sector. With an annual output of over 66 million kWh, it can potentially save 22,000 tonnes of standard coal and 54,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide while meeting the yearly energy needs of 36,000 households with three inhabitants.
Other Chinese Companies Want to Introduce a 14 MW Version in 2023
CTG and Goldwind hope their new 16MW model will put them at the front of a group of Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) competing with Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and General Electric. A fellow Chinese company, MingYang, announced they will roll out a 14MW version of the turbine next year, while CSSC Haizhuang declared its intention to introduce its 16.7MW offshore design, as detailed in Recharge News.
The roll-out follows swiftly after unveiling a 13.6MW turbine, which positioned Goldwind in the leading group of Chinese OEMs that can match and exceed the capacity of western competitors like Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and GE.
Read Also: The First-Ever US Auction of Floating Offshore Wind Farms Attracts $757 Million in Winning Bids
The New Developments Make China's Offshore Wind Industry the Largest in the World
Shortly after Goldwind and CTG released their 16MW turbine, MingYang revealed that it would manufacture a 14MW version in the coming year. CSSC Haizhuang will soon introduce a 16.7MW offshore design, signaling the increased push from China in this sector.
These new developments will greatly impact China's offshore wind industry, which is now the largest in the world. As the Chinese competitors look to rival western businesses outside China, their plans will undoubtedly shape the global energy world for years to come.
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