Deep offshore wind farm showcases innovation

China's deepest offshore wind power project began operation on Tuesday after connecting to the grid, marking a breakthrough in the country's ability to develop wind farms in complex and deep-sea environments.

Located about 70 kilometers off the coast of Yantai, Shandong province, the project features 42 wind turbines installed at depths ranging from 52 to 56 meters. Beneath the sea surface, four-legged steel jacket foundations are embedded into the seabed to secure the structures.

Each turbine operating at full capacity for an hour can generate enough electricity to meet the daily needs of 1,200 households, based on average household consumption of 10 kilowatt-hours per day, according to project documents.

The project is expected to save about 500,000 metric tons of standard coal annually.

"The farther and deeper you go, the higher the wind speed and frequency become, with annual equivalent full-load hours increasing by 15 to 20 percent compared with nearshore areas," said Li Weidong, deputy general manager of Huaneng Shandong Power Generation Co.

High waves, strong currents and seawater corrosion have long made deep-sea areas difficult to develop for wind power projects.

For every 10 meters of additional water depth, the amount of steel required for fixed foundations increases substantially.

Likewise, for every 10 kilometers farther from shore, submarine cables and related equipment must withstand stronger waves and ocean currents.

To address seabed anchoring challenges, the project has moved beyond the traditional single-pile foundation used in shallow waters, adopting a four-pile jacket foundation structure that offers greater rigidity and more even load distribution.

"With these four legs, the turbines can stand firmly on the seabed," said Li Chunxiao, executive director of the Yantai Power Plant, a subsidiary of Huaneng Shandong Power Generation Co.

Using the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, seabed pile driving has achieved millimeter-level precision.

"Combined with intelligent auxiliary installation technology, pile driving operations that once took two days and two nights have been reduced to just 29 hours," said Li.

China's offshore wind sector has been accelerating efforts to build a full industrial chain competitive edge since the beginning of 2026.

Data released by the National Energy Administration in March showed that as of the end of February, the country's total installed wind power capacity grew 22.8 percent year-on-year, with offshore wind power accounting for a growing share.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) outlines that in the next five years, China will build offshore wind power bases in areas including the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea, while promoting the regulated and orderly development of deep-sea and far-shore wind power.