China Commissions 16-Megawatt Floating Offshore Wind Platform

China’s first independently developed 16-megawatt floating offshore wind platform has commenced operations in August. The platform, named ‘Haiyou Anlan’, has been connected to the grid at the Lufeng Oilfield and is directly supplying green electricity, according to an announcement by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Designed and built to endure extreme super typhoon conditions with sustained wind speeds of up to approximately 220 kilometres per hour, the platform and its operation mark a significant step forward for China’s deep-sea floating wind technology, paving a new path for the development of offshore wind power in the country, CNOOC stated. The wind power platform is installed in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, approximately 136 kilometres offshore in the northern part of the South China Sea. It stands nearly as tall as a 110-storey building, weighs 7,800 tonnes, and has a swept area equivalent to 7.5 standard football pitches. Electricity is transmitted to the Lufeng Oilfield grid via a submarine cable. CNOOC estimates the facility will generate 54 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually. Compared to semi-submersible offshore wind platforms, the Tension Leg Platform (TLP) system reduces steel consumption without compromising structural strength, thanks to its floating structure. The TLP system also reduces the sea area occupied by the facility, CNOOC added. China’s offshore wind resources are abundant and crucial for the future growth of the country’s offshore wind capacity. CNOOC estimates the project will save 15,000 cubic metres of fuel oil and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35,000 tonnes per year.