In the second quarter of 2021, China became the world’s largest offshore wind market, but in addition to having more bottom-fixed capacity it is also ramping up floating wind capacity and could become a leader in that field
Analysis by Westwood shows that mainland China now has 25 GW of operational offshore wind capacity, but that in addition to its rapid expansion of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity, it is also fast-tracking development of floating wind.
According to Westwood’s WindLogix data, China is currently ranked fifth globally in terms of installed floating wind capacity, with 5.5 MW. However, by 2026, it is estimated to have commissioned 477 MW of floating wind capacity, which will be 13.4% of global floating wind capacity, which Westwood believes will amount to 3.6 GW by then.
Westwood senior analyst offshore wind Ruth Chen said she estimates that eight floating wind projects, mostly demonstration project, are likely to become operational in the period between 2021 and 2026.
These include the 7.25-MW CNOOC Deep Sea Floating project; 6.2-MW CSSC Fu Yao Floating Demo; 5.5-MW CTG Yangxi Shapa Deepwater Floating Demo; the 200-MW Hainan PFS-1 Wanning Southeast project; 4-MW Longyuan Putian Nanri Island Floating Pilot,; 15-MW Nezzy 2 Demonstrator; 25-MW Shanghai Deep & Far Sea Demonstration (Floating); and the 10-MW Wenzhou Goldwind Floating Demo.
The CTG Yangxi Shapa Deepwater Floating Demo, also known as the ‘Three Gorges Leader,’ and is the first Chinese floating wind project to have become operational, as of early December 2021.
Jointly developed by China Three Gorges Corporation and Ming Yang Smart Energy, the floating wind demonstration project is off the coast of Guangdong province. It uses a MySE 5.5-158 wind turbine and a semi-submersible foundation designed by China Three Gorges Corporation and constructed by Wison Offshore & Marine. The turbine was installed in mid-July 2021 and the infield cables were installed in end-August 2021.
According to Westwood, China’s second floating wind project – the 6.2-MW CSSC Fu Yao Floating Demo – is due to be commissioned later in 2022. The project is owned by CSSC Haizhuang, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). Engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the 6.2-MW demonstration project was completed in early June 2022 by Poly Changda Engineering.
Westwood says the 7.25-MW CNOOC Deep Sea Floating project is currently under construction at the Offshore Oil Engineering yard in Qingdao. It is expected to be operational in /2023.
When installed offshore, the 7.25-MW project will be located in a water depth of 120 m in the northern waters of the South China Sea, offshore Guangdong province. Ming Yang Smart Energy is supplying the turbine and CNOOC Rongfeng Energy Co is the project developer.
Westwood says Guangdong province has the greatest number of floating wind projects in China. Four out of the eight due to be operational in the next five years are from this province.
“Of special note,” said Ms Chen, “is the fact that Hainan province is moving into offshore wind development, including floating wind. The Hainan Wanning Southeast project is a 1-GW project and is being developed in two phases. It is highlighted as part of the province’s 14th Five Year Plan.”
Ms Chen noted that floating wind developers in China include a range of companies, including traditional offshore wind developers such as China Three Gorges Corporation and Longyuan Power, but offshore oil and gas companies such as China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation are also in the mix.
“Ming Yang Smart Energy has taken the lead in supplying the turbines for floating wind projects so far,” Ms Chen said, “being involved in two out of three projects that are close to commissioning.
“Other turbine manufacturers involved in the floating wind market include CSSC Haizhuang and Goldwind. With regards to the dynamic cables for projects, companies involved in supplying these to floating wind projects include Orient Cable and Hengtong Cable.”
Ms Chen said the Ministry of Science and Technology is researching the use of larger, 10-MW floating wind turbines. Overall, she says, China is making significant strides in the floating wind segment, with a growing number of demonstration projects and early commercial scale floating wind projects. At the same time, larger and larger turbines are being planned for floating wind projects.
“Will China come to dominate the floating wind market, as it has fixed-bottom wind?” Ms Chen asked. “That is indeed a possibility.”
