THE world’s largest floating wind turbine that can harness enough energy to power an entire town has been unveiled in China.
A Chinese manufacturer has introduced the new design, which has been dubbed the ‘Flying V’ due to its V-shaped turbine capable of withstanding hurricanes.
MingYang Smart Energy‘s new engineering feat – officially named Ocean X – has been launched in the southern Chinese port city of Guanzhou.
The giant offshore structure weighs a massive 16,500 tonnes – the weight of 1,000 London buses.
The wind turbine is projected to churn out 54,000 MWh per year which is enough to provide energy for over 30,000 homes.
With two counter-rotating rotors, the V-shaped structure is equipped with wind turbines that span a whopping 597 feet in width.
The OceanX was designed to withstand winds of up to 161 mph, equivalent to Category 5 hurricane conditions, and turn them into energy.
With a relatively high for an offshore location turbulence intensity rating of 0.135, the mammoth turbine can ride waves as high as 98feet tall.
Most offshore wind farms operate at ratings closer to 0.06 since rough weather can lead to power fluctuations and considerable early wear on the components of floating power generators.
The OceanX platform was installed in its original scale in April of this year after the company successfully tested a 1:10 scale prototype of the platform in 2020.
For optimal stability, this structure is supported by high-tension cable stays and is positioned atop a floating platform in the form of a V.
The floating platform, which weighs about 16,500 tonnes, is designed to function in waters deeper than 115feet to maximise offshore wind resources.
According to the firm, the complete yaw capability of the turbines boosts their efficiency while a single-point mooring system ensures stability even in typhoon.
The platform was built using ultra-high-performance concrete which boasts increased durability and cost efficiency.
The company claims that OceanX is a leader in renewable energy, able to handle significant energy demands while withstanding hostile marine environments, thanks to its combination of cutting-edge design and construction techniques.
It comes amid a stronger push to move the turbines offshore to utilise stronger ocean winds in a bid to preserve the land for farming.
For the sixth consecutive year, China has been named as the world leader in offshore wind development by the Global Wind Energy Council.
With its 9,010 kilometres of coastline, the country has a lot of potential for wind energy.
By 2025, Beijing aims to have one-third of the country’s electricity come from renewable sources.
Earlier this year, Germany has revealed its incredible plans to build the world’s tallest wind turbine that will surpass the height of the Shard.
The power generator is set to stand 1,200ft tall and produce twice as much energy as existing turbines.
A German energy company has proposed the structure after gathering data on a 1000ft-tall mast that was erected at Schipkau in south Berlin 12 months ago.
The research team found that the sky-high turbine could generate more than twice the yield normal turbines produce with the same rotors.
