China has officially launched the world’s largest single-unit offshore wind turbine, a 26-megawatt (MW) behemoth developed by Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC), further solidifying the nation’s leadership in advanced renewable energy technology. Rolled off the production line in October 2025 at the Fujian Fuzhou Offshore Wind Power Industrial Park, this groundbreaking turbine is engineered with advanced dual anti-typhoon technology, designed to operate safely and efficiently in extreme weather conditions prevalent along China’s coast.
The deployment marks a significant leap in offshore wind power generation, with the turbine boasting a rotor diameter exceeding 310 meters and a hub height of 185 meters, equivalent to a 63-story building. Its annual output is projected to be 100 million kilowatt-hours (100 GWh) of clean electricity, capable of meeting the annual needs of approximately 55,000 households and significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The Race for Megawatt Capacity in Offshore Wind
The unveiling of the 26 MW turbine is the latest development in an accelerating trend where Chinese manufacturers are consistently pushing the boundaries of offshore wind turbine capacity. This pursuit of larger turbines is driven by the desire to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) by maximizing power capture per unit and reducing installation and maintenance costs for entire wind farms.
Key Players and Previous Records
Before DEC’s 26 MW achievement, several other significant milestones were set:
- Mingyang Smart Energy (MySE 16-260): In July 2023, Mingyang’s MySE 16-260, a 16 MW offshore wind turbine with a 260-meter rotor diameter, was commissioned and began operating at full capacity in China. It demonstrated its resilience by withstanding Typhoon Talim shortly after its installation. This turbine can generate 67 million kWh of electricity annually, sufficient for around 80,000 households.
- Goldwind (GWH252-16MW): Also in 2023, Goldwind’s GWH252-16MW model, another 16 MW turbine with a 252-meter rotor diameter, set a world record for single-day electricity generation, producing 384.1 megawatt-hours during Typhoon Haikui. This output could power nearly 170,000 people for a day. This turbine, installed at the Zhangpu Liuao offshore wind farm in Fujian province, had previously withstood two other typhoons.
- Mingyang Smart Energy (MySE 18.X-20MW): In late 2023, Mingyang rolled out the MySE 18.X-20MW, offering flexible power ratings from 18 MW to 20 MW and rotor diameters up to 292 meters. This turbine is specifically designed for typhoon-prone regions and can withstand Category 17 typhoons. It successfully faced Typhoon Yagi in September 2024.
- Mingyang Smart Energy (MySE 22MW): Looking to the near future, Mingyang Smart Energy unveiled plans in October 2023 for a 22 MW offshore wind turbine, the MySE 22MW, with a 310-meter rotor diameter, slated for development between 2024 and 2025.
Engineering for Extreme Weather: Typhoon Resilience
The necessity for typhoon-resistant designs is paramount for offshore wind farms in China’s coastal regions, which are frequently affected by powerful tropical cyclones. Manufacturers have invested heavily in developing technologies to ensure continuous operation and structural integrity during these severe weather events.
Dual Anti-Typhoon Technology
The Dongfang Electric 26 MW turbine incorporates a “dual anti-typhoon design” featuring both an active yawing-against-typhoons strategy and a passive typhoon-resistant structure. This allows the turbine to dynamically adjust its blades and orientation to minimize stress from high winds while its robust physical construction provides inherent stability. The design enables it to withstand wind speeds associated with a Level 17 super typhoon, which can reach up to 80 meters per second (over 178 mph).
Other turbines, like Mingyang’s MySE 16-260, are designed to withstand wind speeds of 79.8 m/s (178.5 mph). The Goldwind 16 MW turbine has demonstrated its ability to operate effectively during typhoons, setting power generation records under such conditions. These innovations are critical for ensuring the reliability and safety of offshore wind power in typhoon zones, which CTO of Mingyang Smart Energy, Qiying Zhang, noted is essential for the future of wind power in China.
Impact and Future Outlook
These advancements in large-capacity, typhoon-resistant wind turbines are crucial for China’s ambitious renewable energy targets and its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. By generating massive amounts of clean electricity from a single unit, these turbines can significantly contribute to the country’s energy mix.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
The larger capacity turbines reduce the number of units required for a given output, leading to lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) on foundations, towers, and installation, as well as reduced operational and maintenance costs over the project’s lifecycle. For example, the Mingyang MySE 18.X-28X (18MW) could reduce the number of turbines needed for a 1-GW offshore wind farm by 18 units compared to 13 MW turbines, substantially lowering the levelized cost of energy. The annual power generation of a single 26 MW unit can power tens of thousands of homes, displacing significant amounts of fossil fuel-based electricity and preventing considerable carbon emissions.
Global Implications
China’s rapid development and deployment of these mega-turbines are positioning it as a global leader in offshore wind technology. The continuous innovation in turbine size and extreme-weather resilience sets new benchmarks for the international renewable energy industry and could influence the design and deployment strategies for offshore wind projects worldwide, particularly in other typhoon-prone regions. This progress underscores the critical role of technological advancement in accelerating the global transition to clean energy.
