China’s Mingyang Smart Energy launches OceanX World's largest floating offshore wind turbine

Advancements in offshore wind technology continue to push boundaries, with Mingyang Smart Energy unveiling its latest innovation: the OceanX. This colossal floating offshore wind turbine, featuring twin counter-rotating rotors atop a robust V-shaped platform, represents a significant leap forward in harnessing wind energy in deep waters.

Mingyang Smart Energy, known for producing the world's largest wind turbines, has introduced its latest innovation in floating offshore wind technology.

Named OceanX, this dual-headed platform is designed for deep-water environments and is capable of generating power even during Category 5 hurricanes, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Featuring two 8.3-MW wind turbines on a single platform, it boasts a remarkable combined output of 16.6 MW. Expected to yield approximately 54,000 MWh annually, OceanX can power about 30,000 households in China or approximately 5,150 households in the United States. The construction of this groundbreaking platform was recently completed in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, marking a significant milestone in renewable energy development.

Its dual counter-rotating rotors are perched atop a V-shaped structure, supported by high-tension cable stays, attached to a Y-shaped floating platform to ensure optimal stability. Each end of the platform features a MySE16.6(T) wind turbine with a massive blade diameter of 597 feet (182 metres), equipped with full yaw capability for efficient wind harvesting. Weighing approximately 16,500 tons (15,000 tons), the platform is designed for waters deeper than 115 feet (35 meters), allowing access to prime offshore wind resources.

Constructed with "ultra-high performance concrete" for durability and cost-effectiveness, the platform employs a single-point mooring system to minimize environmental impact and enhance stability, even in severe weather like typhoons. The OceanX is engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricane conditions, enduring winds up to 161 mph (260 km/h) and waves as high as 98 feet (30 meters). Remarkably, it operates effectively with a turbulence intensity rating of 0.135, making it suitable for challenging offshore environments while continuing to generate electricity amidst extreme weather conditions.

Most offshore wind farms typically operate in turbulence conditions closer to 0.06, as higher turbulence can lead to power fluctuations and accelerated wear on the floating power generator's components.

In 2020, Mingyang Smart Energy constructed and successfully tested a 1:10 scale prototype of the OceanX.

Last year, Three Gorges Energy installed the largest offshore wind turbine globally, the MingYang Smart Energy MySE 16-260, atop a 500-foot (152-meter) tower within its wind farm. This turbine boasts blades spanning approximately 540,000 square feet (50,000 square meters). For comparison, a Walmart Supercenter covers about 180,000 square feet (16,900 square meters).

According to the Global Wind Energy Council, China has maintained its top global ranking in offshore wind development for six consecutive years. China aims to meet one third of its national power consumption from renewable sources by 2025. With approximately 9,010 miles (14,500 km) of coastline, China possesses extensive potential for offshore wind farm development.

As for the expected Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) for the new OceanX, specific figures are not yet available, leaving its potential impact on reducing offshore wind costs unclear. Floating platforms like the OceanX have the potential to reduce significant material, logistics, installation, and maintenance costs compared to traditional seabed-mounted designs.

Only time will reveal the full extent of its capabilities, but it stands as a remarkable feat of engineering.