China continues breakneck pursuit of offshore wind power

China will make deeper explorations into offshore wind power after the country made breakthroughs in improving its capacity in its delivery and installation sectors.

The Wudongde Vessel and Baihetan platform represent recent breakthroughs in which China Three Gorges Corp led joint construction with other domestic constructors like China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

Wudongde Vessel is China's first "transportation plus lifting" offshore wind power vessel, which was delivered for use in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Wednesday, the company said.

The vessel is 182 meters long, 46 meters wide and 15 meters deep. Under operating conditions, its displacement can reach 80,000 tons.

It will have the greatest deck capacity (more than 10,000 tons) and the largest deck area (6,200 square meters) of all domestically built ships of the same class in China, and can carry four sets of 2,000-ton fan foundations in every marine operation.

Thus it will further improve China's capacity to build large-scale offshore wind turbines in the far sea, and provide support for subsequent large-scale centralized development of far-reaching sea wind power projects, according to a statement from the company.

In addition to an expanded delivery capacity, China is expected to have stronger installation capacity soon after the Baihetan platform is delivered.

Baihetan is the country's first 2,000-ton offshore wind power installation platform and was launched in Guangzhou's Nansha district on Wednesday.

The platform, with a full load displacement of 37,000 metric tons, integrates transportation, self-lifting, self-navigation, installation, dynamic positioning and related functions and is expected to be delivered for use within the year, the company said.

The Wudongde Vessel and Baihetan platform will further improve China's ability to carry out the construction and installation of large-scale offshore wind power projects in deep waters, officials with China Three Gorges Corp said on Thursday.