China unveils the world's largest wind turbine at 26 MW capacity
China surprises the world by breaking its record. They have unveiled the world's largest wind turbine, boasting a 26 MW capacity and standing 607 feet tall. This single turbine, built to withstand severe weather conditions, has the potential to power an entire city.
The Chinese Dongfang Electric Corporation announced the completion of the world's largest wind turbine, with a capacity of 26 megawatts (MW). The turbine, which reaches a height of 607 feet, can generate approximately 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy annually at a wind speed of 22 mph. This marks a further step for China toward dominating the renewable energy sector.
Height record broken again by China
China continues to push the boundaries of wind energy technology. Last year, a Chinese manufacturer achieved a significant milestone by producing the world's largest offshore wind turbine, a colossal engineering feat that can power an entire city. Now, they have constructed an even taller structure.
The new turbine is 31% larger than the previous record-holder and surpasses the size of even the largest planned turbines, according to BloombergNEF data. Its efficiency enables it to power about 55,000 homes annually, eliminating the need to burn more than 30,000 tons of coal and preventing over 80,000 tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.
The turbine will withstand the most extreme marine conditions
The turbine is designed with harsh marine conditions in mind, where it will be operational. Its construction is resistant to typhoons and other severe weather phenomena, and advanced anti-corrosion systems protect it from the damaging effects of sea salt. In November 2024, the company announced that the turbine had been produced at the Fujian Fuzhou Offshore Wind Power Industrial Park and would soon commence operations.
"From Asia’s first 10 MW and 13 MW turbines to the world’s largest 18 MW and now 26 MW turbines, Dongfang Electric has led China into the era of large-megawatt offshore wind power. This progress supports China’s offshore wind power leadership, transitioning from a follower to a global leader," stated Dongfang Electric Corporation in its press release.
China as a leader in wind energy production
China is a global leader in wind energy production, boasting the largest installed capacity worldwide. In 2023, the country installed 77.1 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy, representing 65% of the global capacity. However, despite these impressive achievements, China remains heavily reliant on coal as its primary energy source. In 2024, the country began constructing 94.5 GW of new coal capacity, the highest rate in a decade. Notably, China is the world's largest annual emitter of carbon dioxide.
