World's largest floating offshore wind turbine unveiled in China

China has unveiled the world’s largest floating offshore wind turbine, assembled by CRRC China in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The 16-megawatt turbine features blades spanning an area equivalent to seven soccer fields, with a rotor diameter of 826 feet (252 meters). Mounted on a semi-submersible platform equipped with China’s first dynamic ballast system, the turbine can adjust to wind and wave conditions by pumping water in or out of tanks, enhancing stability, safety, and operational efficiency in deep offshore waters. The system is designed for deployment in waters over 164 feet (50 meters) deep, where fixed foundations are not feasible, and is expected to generate approximately 44.7 million kilowatt-hours annually—enough to power around 4,000 average U.S. households. This project, led by the state-owned China Three Gorges Corporation, marks a significant step in China’s renewable energy ambitions and its broader strategy to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The turbine