The largest wind turbine on the planet has started behaving strangely. We’re talking about 20 MW installed offshore. Offshore wind energy regulation must protect habitats and ensure social involvement to achieve its goals. After all, it’s one of the most important energy sources globally, especially in the current energy transition.
Offshore wind energy projects are a great alternative for producing clean energy today, where efficiency and sustainability need to go hand in hand to slow the advance of climate change. This energy source harnesses the power of offshore winds to generate kinetic energy. It converts this energy into electricity using a wind turbine that generates direct current.
This direct current is then converted into alternating current, and through a transformer, the voltage is increased for transport to an electrical substation. Finally, it is distributed to homes and industries. The production capacity of the turbines varies depending on the height and size of the rotor blades.
What’s happening with the largest wind turbine on the planet?
The largest wind turbine in the world boasts a power output of 20 megawatts (20 MW). This machine, developed by Mingyang, features a rotor diameter of 260-292 meters. It’s worth noting that the rotor diameter is the distance between the tip of one blade and the tip of another.
Mingyang Smart Energy made a major announcement that has caught the attention of the energy sector. It has installed its impressive offshore wind turbine, the MySE18.X-20 MW, in Hainan, China. According to the manufacturer, the turbine has a “modular and lightweight design, with a flexible power capacity of up to 20 megawatts and a rotor diameter of 260-292 meters.”
The turbine has enough capacity to harness winds with an average speed of 8.5 meters per second. It can also produce up to 80 million kilowatt-hours per year, which is equivalent to the annual demand of nearly 100,000 people, according to estimates by Mingyang. The company calculates that this production could prevent up to 66,000 tons of CO2 emissions, the amount a fossil fuel-burning power plant would release to generate the same amount of electricity. The MySE18.X-20 MW model is specifically designed for offshore installations.
The Asian manufacturer is also finalizing details for a 22 MW machine, the MySE 22MW model. Last October, it was unveiled at the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) in Beijing. This wind turbine, with a rotor diameter of 310 meters, is designed for regions with high wind speeds, averaging 8.5 to 10 meters per second.
Current Status of the Largest Wind Turbine in the World
Additionally, the Chinese company claims to have achieved the proper balance in the blades of the wind turbine. According to the Renewable Energies portal, Mingyang Smart Energy presents this component as a model “suitable for both seabed anchoring and installation on floating platforms.” The company also guarantees that, like other designs, it is “typhoon-resistant.”
Just a few days ago, the company announced that its double-turbine offshore platform, OceanX, which supports two 8 MW wind turbines, was able to withstand the winds of Super Typhoon Yagi, which reached 245 km/h at its center and exceeded 60 meters per second when making landfall on Hainan Island.
In summary, the title of the largest wind turbine in the world now belongs to the unit developed by Mingyang, and unlike what one might expect when discussing a “wind turbine,” it is installed offshore. As this news continues to spread, environmental organizations are weighing in on the deployment of offshore wind energy.
