China's Fanshi wind farm fully operational
China has brought into full commercial operation its inaugural large-scale offshore wind farm, built around 18-megawatt ultra-large turbines. The Fanshi offshore wind power project, situated in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, achieved full operation on September 24. Developed by China General Nuclear Power Corporation, the facility is positioned 81 kilometers from shore. The Fanshi project comprises 131 wind turbines, 33 of which are 18-megawatt ultra-large units. This represents the most extensive installation of offshore turbines at such an elevated single-unit capacity. Each of these powerful turbines features a rotor diameter of 292 meters, with a swept area of 66,000 square meters, comparable to nine football pitches. A single rotation of an 18-megawatt turbine yields 43 kilowatt-hours of electricity. One such turbine can generate 56 million kilowatt-hours annually. The entire Fanshi facility is projected to supply over 6.6 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the grid annually. This massive clean energy output is expected to conserve 1.92 million tonnes of standard coal and curtail carbon dioxide emissions by 5.1 million tonnes annually. The initiative represents a stride toward enhanced efficiency and reduced costs in China's offshore wind industry, supporting the construction of bigger, more economical offshore wind farms. This development delivers renewable electricity to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and underscores China's commitment to a low-carbon energy transition and expanding its clean energy infrastructure.
