China has reached a new milestone in offshore wind power with Qihang, a turbine so gigantic that the First Tower, France’s tallest skyscraper, would fit between its blades, with a margin of 29 meters! A technological feat that makes the Asian giant the undisputed leader in renewable energies, and raises questions in Europe.
An impressive wind turbine
China continues to impress the world with its technological prowess, this time in the field of renewable energies. The Asian giant recently commissioned an offshore wind turbine so colossal in size that it dwarfs even Europe’s tallest architectural structures. To give an idea of its scale, the Tour First, France’s tallest skyscraper at 231 metres, could easily fit between the blades of this sea behemoth, with a margin of 29 metres still to spare. A feat that underlines China’s inordinate ambition in the field of green energy, and its determination to establish itself as the undisputed leader in this forward-looking sector. This new project is yet another step in the country’s energy transition and quest for energy independence.
Developed by the state-owned CRRC Corporation, better known for its high-speed trains than its wind turbines, this offshore turbine, christened Qihang, boasts record dimensions. Its tower rises to a height of 151 meters, but it’s above all the diameter of its rotor that makes you dizzy: 260 meters from blade to blade. By way of comparison, the largest onshore wind turbines installed in France generally have a rotor diameter of between 110 and 150 metres. There’s a big difference. This scale gives Qihang an unprecedented capacity to generate electricity, capable of rivaling traditional power plants.
With a capacity of 20 MW, Qihang surpasses the previous 16.6 and 18 MW floating wind turbines deployed in 2024 by Envision Energy and Dongfang Electric, also from China. By way of comparison, the largest offshore wind turbines installed off the French coast have a unit capacity of around 8 MW. In France, the largest onshore wind turbine installed is General Electric’s Haliade-X, with a capacity of 12 MW and a rotor diameter of 220 meters. China does it better. This technological superiority will be short-lived, however, as another Chinese giant, Mingyang Wind Power, has already announced plans to develop an even more powerful model, with a capacity of 22 MW.
Not just power
The CRRC feat is not limited to the size of the wind turbine. Its modular design allows great flexibility in power configuration and adaptation to different floating platforms and anchors. The wind turbine is equipped with over 200 sensors on blades, structures, transmission systems, floats and mooring lines, enabling real-time monitoring of its operation and structural integrity. What’s more, Qihang is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including typhoons, which are common in the maritime areas where it will be deployed. The wind turbine can produce up to 62 GWh of energy per year, enough to power 37,000 homes. In France, the average electricity consumption per household is around 4,700 kWh per year. So a single Qihang wind turbine could theoretically power a medium-sized French town.
The first Qihang unit left CRRC’s Sheyang factory last October and was transported by self-propelled modular barges to the test site at the port of Guangli, in Shandong province. After complete assembly, it entered a period of rigorous testing and certification before final deployment on the high seas and connection to the power grid.
The commissioning of this giant wind turbine marks another milestone in China’s meteoric rise in offshore wind energy. In just a few years, the country has overtaken the UK to become the world leader in terms of installed capacity. Floating wind turbine technology, such as that used by Qihang, makes it possible to exploit maritime zones that are deeper and further from the coast, where winds are stronger and more regular. This opens up new prospects for renewable energy production, with no visual impact on the coastal landscape. China has some 18,000 km of coastline, giving it considerable potential for offshore wind power. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), installed offshore wind energy capacity in China reached 30.89 GW in 2023, representing over 40% of global capacity.
And what about Europe?
This Chinese technological breakthrough is raising questions in Europe, and particularly in France. While France has set itself ambitious targets for renewable energies, the development of offshore wind power is struggling to get off the ground, hampered by complex administrative procedures and local opposition. The contrast with the speed and efficiency of deployment in China is striking. France has the second largest offshore wind energy potential in Europe, after the UK, with around 11,000 km of coastline. However, installed offshore wind power capacity in France was just 2.4 GW in 2023, well below the government’s target of 6.2 GW by 2028.
Qihang’s example underlines the urgent need for France and Europe to accelerate the energy transition and invest massively in the technologies of the future. It’s not just a question of catching up with China, but also of guaranteeing the continent’s energy independence and contributing to the fight against climate change. If France wants to maintain its place in the concert of nations and play a leading role in the energy transition, it is imperative that it adopts an ambitious and proactive strategy for the development of offshore wind power, drawing inspiration, why not, from the dynamism and boldness of its Chinese competitor. In 2024, the French government has launched a call for tenders for the construction of
The Qihang wind turbine is not only a technological feat, it’s also a symbol of China’s determination to become a green energy superpower. A challenge for Europe, and a call to action for France. It remains to be seen whether the country will rise to the challenge and live up to its ambitions.
Source : https://www.crrcgc.cc/en/2024-10/24/article_2024102416433281548.html
