China continues its clean energy development, placing it at the forefront of the offshore wind energy sector. The world’s first 16 MW Floating Offshore Wind Platform was assembled at the Gaolan Port in Zhuhai, south China, and departed on June 28, 2026 for its deployment in the South China Sea. The platform is designed to accommodate a single 16 MW turbine and is held in place by tensioned anchor cables.
Officials said that the deployment is part of China’s accelerated efforts to scale up and commercialize deep-sea floating offshore wind technology.
The project will reduce the carbon footprint of offshore oil production and contribute to the development of floating wind energy in the region.
The deployment is also unique as the single 16 MW turbine is to be positioned “on-site” near the Lufeng oilfield cluster, 250 km south east of Hong Kong in the South China Sea, reducing the need for under-sea cabling.
The 16 MW turbine utilizes Tension Leg Platform technology: a buoyant offshore structure held in place by vertical, high-tension cables anchored to the seabed, capable of providing a near-fixed vertical position in medium and deep off-shore water, enabling stable production with minimal heave. (See diagram)
The platform is over 307 metres high and weighs around 8,000 tonnes – making it the world’s largest platform of its kind in terms of single-turbine capacity.
Once operational, the facility will generate around 54 million kWh of electricity annually. This output will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 35,000 tonnes per year and save around 15,000 cubic metres of diesel fuel annually.
The electricity will be transmitted to oil and gas platforms in the Lufeng area via subsea cables. This will enable some of the fuel used in oil and gas production to be replaced by wind energy.
The project integrates offshore wind power with oil and gas operations, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from offshore oil and gas operations and contributing to the development of the floating offshore wind farm industry.
The initiative is designed to stimulate the growth of the maritime economy and the transition to an greener, more environmentally friendly energy sector.
China continues to lead the global wind power industry.
As of May 2026 it surpassed a total installed wind power generation capacity of 660 million kilowatts. It is up more than 17 percent year-on-year. The offshore component has reached 47 GW, giving China 78 percent of the newly added offshore wind generation capacity. It currently has more than half the global market in offshore wind power, and has planned for adding a further 63 GW of additional offshore power generation capacity.
Sources:
The Maritime Executive, June 30, 2026. https://maritime-executive.com/article/china-deploys-first-16mw-floating-offshore-wind-tension-leg-platform
TV BRICS, July 1, 2026. https://tvbrics.com/en/news/china-strengthens-clean-energy-with-world-first-floating-wind-technology/
