With the MySE 22MW, China aims to redefine possibilities in wind energy production.
China Breaks Its Own Record
Recently, China has made another groundbreaking step to solidify its leading position in the global renewable energy sector by announcing an achievement: one wind turbine can now independently supply electricity to tens of thousands of homes.
Specifically, the Chinese smart energy company Mingyang, which specializes in renewable energy equipment manufacturing, unveiled a proud prototype of an offshore wind turbine with a capacity of 22 Megawatts (MW) during the China Wind Power Exhibition in Beijing at the end of 2023.
The prototype, named MySE 22MW, features a rotor (the moving part of the turbine with attached blades) that is over 310 meters long, making it the largest wind turbine currently in offshore wind technology, according to Global Energy Prize.
One wind turbine has the potential to supply electricity for tens of thousands of homes. (Photo: Mingyang Smart Energy).
Designed for areas with strong winds, with average wind speeds ranging from 8.5 meters per second to 10 meters per second, this “giant” is also said to be storm-resistant, intelligent, and suitable for both fixed and floating applications.
The MySE 22MW is poised to change the economics of wind energy. Its enormous swept area allows for the production of 80 GWh of electricity annually. The new turbine is expected to enter commercial production between this year and 2025.
Not stopping there, Mingyang has begun producing a similar version of the MySE 22MW for onshore operation – the wind turbine MySE 11–233, which has a rotor ranging from 233 to 243 meters and a capacity of 11 Megawatts.
The MySE 11–233 prototype will be designed to operate in the harsh Gobi Desert region in northern China and is capable of generating enough energy to meet the monthly needs of 1,300 households.
Earlier in 2023, China surpassed Denmark to set a world record with the largest wind turbine. The turbine blades are 260 meters long, and when in motion, they cover an area of 53,000 square meters, equivalent to more than 7 standard football fields.
The Mingyang MySE 22MW presents a challenge for wind turbine manufacturers worldwide. The European Union (EU) is currently considering financial measures to support domestic manufacturers. However, beyond the competitive landscape, the MySE 22MW could represent a significant advancement in the global transition to renewable energy.
A Technical Marvel: The World’s Largest Wind Turbine
Bloomberg describes the MySE 22MW as a “technological marvel” with impressive features.
As the blades of the world’s largest wind turbine, the MySE 22MW, rotate, they will cover an area larger than 75,000 square meters, equivalent to 10 standard football fields. The turbine is expected to reach a height of 325 meters – the height of a 90-story building.
The remarkable functionality of wind turbines relies on the rotation speed of the blades to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy, which is then transformed into electrical energy.
When rotating, the MySE 22MW turbine will cover an area larger than 75,000 square meters.
Achieving a capacity of 22 Megawatts requires groundbreaking technical designs for the MySE 22MW.
First: The length of the blades. The rotor diameter of the turbine reaches 310 meters. According to Global Energy Prize, the length of the MySE 22MW blades is a key factor determining the specific power of the wind generator. Larger blades capture more wind, thus generating more energy.
This improved design will serve as a model for many wind turbines worldwide.
Second: The turbine’s foundation. In offshore conditions, using bulky wind turbine generators can be challenging due to the instability of traditional windmill structures at great depths.
The solution comes from using wind turbines with conical foundations that can securely hold the base, allowing the enormous blades to operate in areas frequently subjected to strong storms.
Third: The composition of the blades – the most expensive part. According to Mingyang Smart Energy, the blades will be designed using carbon fiber with a special corrosion-resistant coating to achieve optimal balance in durability, weight, and corrosion resistance.
With high rigidity, great durability, low weight, high chemical resistance, and the ability to withstand high temperatures while having low thermal expansion, carbon fiber will ensure the blades of the wind turbine remain sustainable in the ocean’s harsh environment.
In fact, before being put into operation, wind turbines around the world must undergo durability tests under extreme environmental conditions that they may face over decades at sea.
Fourth: The structure of the blades (turbine blades). The blades are considered the most critical aerodynamic component of the turbine and significantly affect the turbine’s performance. At first glance, the turbine blade appears to be a slender shape.
However, fundamentally, the turbine blade consists of three main parts: Blade root, blade shaft, and blade tip. These components are responsible for optimizing the pressure and airflow entering the turbine, causing the rotor to spin, thus converting the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy.
The commercial application of MySE 22MW will drive further development of wind energy technology in China.
Mingyang Smart Energy Group currently has wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 40GW installed at over 700 wind farms worldwide. Mingyang claims its renewable energy solutions have reduced CO2 emissions equivalent to 100 million tons per year.
The commercial application of the MySE 22MW and MySE 11–233 will further propel the development of wind energy technology in China – the global leader in low-carbon energy development.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in 2022, China accounted for 46% of the total global installed wind and solar power capacity.
However, competition may be on the horizon. Siemens Energy is currently developing a large wind turbine aimed at surpassing the electricity output of China’s latest project. This effort received a $30 million investment from the European Union last year, with the German energy company aiming to create the world’s most powerful wind turbine prototype.
