China has officially launched the world’s first and largest floating Tension-Leg Platform (TLP) designed to support a 16 MW wind turbine, destined for installation in the South China Sea.
According to sea-news.az citing Seanews.az, the platform was assembled at Gaolan Port in Zhuhai. It stands over 307 meters tall and weighs approximately 8,000 tons.
The new TLP was dispatched on June 28 and will be installed near the Lufeng oil field, located approximately 250 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong, at a water depth of 330 meters.
Once operational, the platform will generate approximately 54 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This energy will be transmitted to the oil field’s power grid via subsea cables. This project marks a milestone as the first in China to integrate renewable energy sources directly into offshore oil and gas operations.
Chinese officials report that the country’s total installed wind power capacity has surpassed 660 million kilowatts, while offshore wind capacity has exceeded 47 GW. Currently, China accounts for approximately 78% of newly commissioned offshore wind power capacity globally, maintaining its position as the world leader in this sector.
