While the world is increasingly committed to phasing out fossil fuels, solar and wind power plants play a central role in meeting human electricity demands.
However, it is a reality that while solar farms have the limitation of not being able to generate energy at night, wind turbines can operate around the clock, although their output capacity may be significantly lower.
China unveils the world’s first 17-level storm-resistant offshore wind turbine. (Image source: Getty Image)
Over the years, wind turbines have been growing larger and capable of generating more energy with each rotation. The focus on harnessing the benefits of offshore wind energy has now transitioned into a new industry, which involves the design and construction of offshore wind turbines.
MingYang Smart Energy, a Chinese offshore wind turbine manufacturer, has recently unveiled its latest prototype that can operate even in severe storms. With a capacity of 18-20 MW, this is also the largest turbine in the world to date.
The company, based in Guangdong, China, has gained attention over the past few years by continuously producing wind turbines with increasing capacity. Starting with 14 MW turbines connected to the power grid in China in 2021, the company has gradually developed 16 MW wind turbines in a short span of time. The newly announced prototype has a capacity of up to 18-20 MW.
At its manufacturing facility in Shanwei, the company introduced the offshore wind turbine named MySE18.X-20 MW. This new offshore wind turbine design has evolved from the foundation of the 14-16 MW models that the company has built and widely deployed.
According to the company’s press release, the MySE18.X-20 MW turbine design is modular, lightweight, and offers high performance. The diameter of the turbine ranges from 260 to 292 meters, providing power to 96,000 households and reducing CO2 emissions by 66,000 tons for the eastern Guangdong region.
MingYang Smart Energy has also ensured that their new turbine design can be deployed in areas with medium to high wind speeds. Additionally, this turbine is equipped with active storm resistance technology, allowing it to withstand storms rated at level 17 (56.1-61.2 m/s).
While this is impressive, the title of the largest wind turbine in the world may not last long. Earlier in October this year, the company also revealed its next new prototype, which is a 22 MW design with blades the size of the Eiffel Tower.
