China turns on world’s first 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine – 07/21/2023 – Market

China created the world’s largest operating wind farm in terms of single-unit capacity when it turned on a massive turbine on Wednesday, underscoring its position as a world leader in wind power generation.

The machine, which is the world’s first offshore wind turbine with 16 megawatts, is located in a wind farm off the coast of Fujian province, in the east of the country, as said in a statement the operator China Three Gorges Renewables Group Co. Ltd.

With rotating blades up to 123 meters long, it would only take a full circle to generate enough power for a week for a family of three, Zhang Long, general manager of China Three Gorges Renewables, told state broadcaster CCTV on a recent talk show.

In its statement, the company said the wind turbine could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 54,000 tons per year.

China is on track to nearly double its wind and solar power generation capacity by 2025 and exceed its clean energy target five years ahead of schedule, according to a June report by Global Energy Monitor.

China’s solar power capacity has multiplied by 150 from the level it was in 2012, and its wind power capacity has multiplied by six over the past 10 years, said Wang Zhongying, director of the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, on Monday.

Also this week, US climate envoy John Kerry had his first major climate discussions with Chinese officials in nearly a year. His Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, said the country was seeking “substantial” dialogue on climate and the green transition, which could improve bilateral relations.

Translated by Clara Allain