China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has commissioned what it claims to be the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine, a 20 MW unit now feeding electricity into the grid at the phase II Liuao offshore wind farm. Located over 30 km off southeast China‘s Fujian coast in waters deeper than 40 metres, the turbine completed testing and began operation on 5th February despite monsoon winds and complex seas.
CTG hailed the achievement as the first global installation, debugging, and grid connection of an ultra-large-capacity 20 MW offshore unit. “The team overcame tough conditions to complete all tests efficiently,” said Jiang Guangqiu, deputy general manager of CTG’s Fujian branch. He noted its potential to support future deepwater offshore wind development.
Rising 174 metres above sea level, the turbine features a 300-metre rotor diameter, sweeping an area equal to 10 standard football fields. At rated output, it will generate over 80 million kWh annually, powering about 44,000 households and saving 22,000 tonnes of coal equivalent in emissions.
Key innovations include airfoil blades for maximum aerodynamic efficiency, plus lightweight digital construction that cuts weight per MW by more than 20% versus industry norms, lifting capture efficiency and output.
