Wind power |
Chinese offshore wind turbines: 18 MW and beyond
China is steadily assuming the role of world leader in the field of supersized offshore wind turbines.
Early in 2023 Mingyang Smart Energy launched its typhoon-proof MySE 18.X-28X offshore turbine platform, capacity 18 MW with the potential to go even bigger, and CSSC (China State Shipbuilding Corp) Haizhuang, not to be outdone, unveiled the nacelle for its 18 MW turbine, the H260-18MW. Previously the largest Chinese turbines were the 16 MW machines offered by Dongfang and Goldwind.
The CSSC Haizhuang mega machine, which boasts a 260 m rotor diameter, was launched in Dongying City Offshore Wind Power Industrial Park, Shandong Province.
CSSC Haizhuang says the nacelle unveiling
demonstrates that it has “mastered the core technologies of high-rating offshore wind turbines and their key components.” China has enjoyed the world’s largest offshore wind capacity additions for 12 consecutive years, notes CSSC Haizhuang, and has the world’s largest offshore wind installed capacity, by a considerable margin, with offshore wind becoming one of China’s largest sources of renewable power.
In 2022, China’s offshore wind market entered into a “new era of grid parity”, says CSSC Haizhuang and “bidding has become the latest model for the development of offshore wind energy.” Under these conditions, the wind industry focuses on how to achieve LCOE reduction and improved power output. And there is no doubt that large-scale and high- reliability is an inevitable requirement for cost reduction, CSSC Haizhuang asserts, noting that “in recent years, overseas turbine makers have been developing turbines with rated capacities above 15 MW, and domestic manufacturers also focus on R&D and applications of higher power offshore wind turbines.”
Above: Nacelle for CSSC Haizhuang’s H260-18MW wind turbine
Features of the CSSC Haizhuang design include “platformisation”, an integrated approach to turbine–tower–foundation and “intelligent
Above: Visualisation of complete CSSC Haizhuang’s H260-18MW wind turbine
control technology”, with a “holographic sensing system” to support wind turbine operation. CSSC Haizhuang say it has developed the 18 MW offshore wind turbine with “independent IP rights”, which has improved the localisation rate for the turbine, currently standing at 80%. CSSC subsidiary companies completed the main components, including blades, gearbox, generator, promising a localisation rate for these main components of over 99%.
The H260-18MW offshore turbine has a swept area of 53 000 square meters, and at full wind speed, generates 44.8 kWh per revolution, with a single turbine able to produce more than 74 million kWh per year.
Global offshore wind pipeline exceeds 1100 GW
New research by RenewableUK’s EnergyPulse data analysts shows that the global offshore wind pipeline (including projects at all stages of development, planned, under construction, operational) now stands at 1174 GW across 1417 projects in 38 countries – an increase of 508 GW over the past 12 months. The UK’s pipeline of offshore wind projects at now stands at 99.8 GW across 130 projects – an increase of 14 GW over the past 12 months. This includes 13.7 GW of fully operational capacity and a further 13.6 GW under construction or with support secured for a route to market. The UK’s pipeline is 8.5% of the global total – the first time that it has fallen below 10%, as new
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markets have emerged in Australasia and South America.
In terms of global operational capacity, which is now 60 GW, China is in the lead with 47% (28.3 GW), while the UK retains its number two position, with 23% (13.7GW).
Some 90% of the new offshore wind capacity that went operational in 2022 was in two markets: China (3.8 GW) and the UK (3.2 GW). China and the UK are expected to retain first and second place until at least 2030.
RenewableUK’s chief executive Dan McGrail said: “It’s great to see the UK retaining a powerful position in offshore wind, second only to China. However, as our latest report shows, new markets
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Above: Global offshore wind pipeline (MW) (source RenewableUK EnergyPulse)
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are emerging fast in places like Australia and Brazil, so we can’t take our current status as a world leader for granted. The US and EU are offering massive financial incentives for developers to build renewable energy projects –“ while in the UK we’re being taxed more heavily than oil and gas companies. Unless we take bold action to attract billions in private investment, we risk being left behind in the years ahead – the money will simply go elsewhere and we’ll lose out.”
More details on RenewableUK’s EnergyPulse database and market reports are available here:
https://www.renewableuk.com/ general/
custom.asp?page=EnergyPulse
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Above: Offshore wind generation capacity in operation (MW) (source RenewableUK EnergyPulse)
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