China Unveils World’s Largest Floating Wind Turbine

China has launched what it claims to be the largest and most powerful floating offshore wind turbine globally, showcasing advancements in a sector where it has not yet dominated.

Developed by CRRC Corporation Limited (CRRC), a leading Chinese train manufacturer, the new turbine boasts an electricity generation capacity of 20 megawatts (MW), significantly surpassing previous records in offshore wind technology.

This pioneering turbine, completed in Yancheng City, is set to outsize existing floating wind turbines worldwide.

For comparison, the largest operational floating turbines are installed in Norway’s North Sea, operated by Hywind, with an 88 MW system capacity split across 11 units, each capable of generating 8.6 MW.

The newly launched Chinese turbine features a rotor diameter of 260 meters (853 feet) and a sweeping area equivalent to seven soccer fields, further underscoring its massive scale.

Floating offshore wind technology has been heralded as a crucial frontier in renewable energy, allowing access to deeper waters and stronger, more consistent wind speeds.

China's entry into this field may indicate its strategic pivot toward capturing a larger share of the global floating wind market, which has previously been dominated by European companies.

This development highlights China’s growing commitment to leadership in offshore renewable energy innovations, and a potential shift in global renewable energy dynamics.