The smart energy company Minh Dương has introduced a giant floating offshore wind turbine capable of harnessing wind speeds of up to 260 km/h.
OceanX is a deep-water dual-head wind turbine that can generate electricity during a Category 5 hurricane. This is the largest and first floating platform in the world featuring two 8.3 MW turbines, providing a total capacity of 16.6 MW. It is expected that the turbine will produce approximately 54,000 MWh of electricity annually, enough to supply around 30,000 households in China, according to a report by New Atlas on July 16.
Minh Dương’s new dual-head floating wind turbine with a capacity of 16.6 MW. (Photo: Minh Dương)
Minh Dương completed the offshore platform with dual wind turbines in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, southern China, on July 13. The new turbine was designed by Minh Dương and produced by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Group.
The two identical rotors rotate in opposite directions at the top of a V-shaped structure, securely anchored with high-tension cables, mounted on a Y-shaped floating platform for maximum stability. The MySE16.6(T) wind turbine features blades that are 182 m in diameter. The platform weighs approximately 15,000 tons and is designed to operate in waters deeper than 35 m, allowing it to access the best offshore wind resources. The platform utilizes ultra-high-performance concrete to achieve durability and reduce costs. A single-point mooring system minimizes environmental impact while increasing stability, even in storm conditions.
OceanX is engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricanes with wind speeds of up to 260 km/h. Furthermore, this structure continues to generate electricity even in wave heights of up to 30 m. It can endure vortex intensities of 0.135, which is relatively high for offshore locations. Most offshore wind farms operate under conditions less than 0.06 due to harsh environments that can cause electrical fluctuations and wear on the floating generator’s components. In 2020, Minh Dương successfully produced and tested a small-scale prototype of OceanX that is 1/10th the size of the actual model.
Last year, the Three Gorges Energy Company installed a MySE 16-260 turbine from Minh Dương, the largest offshore wind turbine in the world, on a 152 m tall tower at their wind farm. This turbine has a rotor-swept area of approximately 50,000 m². According to the Global Wind Energy Council, China has ranked number one in the world for offshore wind energy development for six consecutive years. China’s goal is to meet one-third of national electricity consumption through renewable sources by 2025.
