MingYang Smart Energy Activates The 20 MW MySE Offshore Wind Turbine in Hainan

The global offshore wind sector reached a new technical peak this month as MingYang Smart Energy officially energized its MySE 18.X-20 MW turbine. Located at a testing site in Hainan, China, the unit now holds the title of the world’s largest operational offshore wind turbine. The installation features a modular design intended to address the logistical challenges associated with components of this scale.

With a rotor diameter ranging between 260 and 292 meters, the turbine covers a swept area equivalent to nine soccer fields. Its engineering is specifically tailored for regions prone to extreme weather, withstanding wind speeds of up to 79.8 meters per second. This resilience is a critical requirement for projects in the South China Sea, where typhoon activity frequently threatens offshore infrastructure.

The turbine is expected to generate approximately 80 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. According to data provided by the manufacturer, this output is sufficient to power roughly 96,000 households. The shift toward larger individual units is driven by the industry's objective to reduce the levelized cost of energy. By increasing the capacity of a single turbine, developers can reduce the total number of foundations, cables, and installation cycles required for a wind farm.

The MySE 18.X-20 MW utilizes a medium-speed drive train, a configuration MingYang has adopted to balance weight and mechanical reliability. While European manufacturers have traditionally led the offshore market, the activation of this 20-megawatt unit highlights the rapid acceleration of Chinese turbine technology. The Hainan project serves as a pilot for future deep-water installations where high-capacity turbines are necessary to make projects economically viable.