World’s ‘most powerful’ wind turbine withstands 139 mph ‘super typhoon’ winds

Visuals have emerged showing how the largest single-capacity floating wind turbine in the world withstood the impact of Super Typhoon Yagi, which struck with winds peaking at 139 mph (62 m/s or 223.6 kmph).

Chinse wind firm Minyang Smart Energy claims that its OceanX platform not only withstood the storm’s intensity but also stood as a testament to reliable offshore wind technology amidst extreme conditions.

The firm recently installed OceanX at Qingzhou IV Offshore Wind Farm in Yangjiang, Guangdong, a coastal province of southeast China.

Ocean X has a 16.6 MW overall capacity with a dual-turbine “V” form. Its yearly output capacity of 54,000 MWh could supply electricity to about 30,000 households in China.

“Unfazed by the storm’s fury, OceanX demonstrated its superior anti-typhoon features, reinforcing Mingyang’s commitment to advanced, reliable offshore wind solutions,” said the firm in a post on LinkedIn.

On the other hand, the storm significantly affected the Wenchang Wind Power Plant in China, which is currently being repowered by Huaneng Hainan. Reports suggest that at least six of the farm’s wind turbines were severely damaged.

Innovative wind structure

The OceanX platform was designed by MingYang and constructed through a collaboration between Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company and China State Shipbuilding Corp.

In 2020, a prototype at 1:10 scale was tested, and the company finished installing the OceanX platform at its original scale in April of this year.

Its innovative design features twin counter-rotating rotors mounted on a V-shaped structure with high-tension cables, secured to a Y-shaped floating platform for enhanced stability.

Each end of the platform houses MySE16.6(T) wind turbines , boasting blade diameters of 182 meters and spinning with full yaw capability. Weighing approximately 15,000 tons, the platform is built for waters over 35 meters deep, ensuring access to prime offshore wind resources.

The OceanX is constructed from “ultra-high performance concrete” for improved durability and cost-efficiency and employs a single-point mooring system to minimize environmental impact while enhancing stability, even during typhoon conditions.

According to the firm, it is engineered to endure Category 5 hurricanes with wind speeds up to 161 mph (260 km/h) and to continue generating electricity amidst 30-meter waves. The platform’s design also accommodates a turbulence intensity of 0.135, suitable for challenging offshore environments.

Turbine tech revolution

Mingyang uses cutting-edge floating offshore wind technologies to support the global shift to sustainable energy. These comprise an advanced 16.6MW (OceanX double-rotor floating wind turbine) and the MySE 5.5MW and 7.25MW systems.

These devices, intended to harvest wind energy from deep oceans, can function efficiently up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) offshore and down to a depth of 100 meters.

MingYang’s turbines, which can sweep an area the size of nine soccer fields, compete with both domestic rivals GoldWind and CSSC Haizhuang and worldwide giants Siemens Gamesa. Their diameters range from 853 to 958 feet (260-292 meters).

These turbines in eastern Guangdong, with an annual capacity of 80 million kWh, may reduce CO2 emissions by 66,000 tons while providing electricity to 96,000 families.

With “active anti-typhoon technology,” they can withstand Category 17 typhoons with wind speeds of up to 200 feet per second (61 m/s). They are made for medium to high wind speeds.