26 megawatts: China commissions world's most powerful wind turbine

The Chinese energy company Dongfang Electric has commissioned the world's largest and most powerful offshore wind turbine. The wind power plant with an output of 26 megawatts replaces the previous record holder SG 21-276 DD from Siemens Gamesa in Denmark with an output of 21.5 megawatts. The Chinese wind turbine prototype was assembled in a test and certification facility within just a few weeks.

The nacelle of the wind turbine and its three huge rotor blades were only delivered to the site off Fujian at the beginning of August 2025. This is probably the heaviest wind turbine nacelle in the world, suspended at a height of 185 meters. The rotor blades each have a length of 153 meters. In total, the rotor diameter is more than 310 m. The turbine has now been fully installed four weeks later.

The turbine has been developed for offshore use with wind speeds of more than 8 m/s. It is designed for wind speeds of up to 8 m/s. It should be able to withstand wind speeds of up to 200 km/h, Dongfang Electric promises. At an average wind speed of 10 m/s, it should be able to generate 100 GWh of electricity per year. According to the company, this system alone will ensure the energy supply of 55,000 households. The initial assumption was 40,000 households.

The operator also hopes to be able to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Compared to a coal-fired power plant, 80,000 tons of CO₂ should be prevented. Around 30,000 tons of coal no longer need to be burned in a coal-fired power plant.

Testing procedure

The prototype of the 26-megawatt wind turbine is now to be tested. This includes tests to detect signs of fatigue. Previously, only individual components, such as the huge rotor blades, were subjected to static tests. Now, all the components must work together in practice to show whether they can withstand continuous use.

China is increasingly focusing on size in the development of wind turbines. These wind turbines are designed to withstand high offshore wind speeds in order to produce as much energy as possible with one turbine. In addition, the development and construction of larger turbines is more cost-effective than the construction of several smaller ones. China has already gained a cost advantage over other countries. For example, the production costs for an offshore wind turbine are less than half those of the United Kingdom, which is currently the second-largest market for offshore wind turbines after China.

(olb)