The world's first typhoon-resistant wind turbine dwarfs the Eiffel Tower, set to power 96,000 homes
Engineers from the Chinese firm, MingYang Smart Energy, developed the new turbine. This company periodically features in news from the energy industry. This is because the firm's engineers continually break boundaries by creating the largest and most potent wind turbines globally. In 2021, they connected 14 MW units to the national power grid, unveiled and deployed 16 MW turbines, and achieved a capacity of 20 MW in their prototype model.
11:06 AM EST, December 15, 2023
Giant Wind Turbine Capable of Withstanding Typhoons
As we near the end of 2023, MingYang Smart Energy's latest turbine emerges as a true titan. Its blades span an impressive 958 feet, nearly rivaling the height of the Eiffel Tower (984 feet without the mast) and considerably surpassing that of Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science (777 feet). It also possesses an immense power capacity—18 MW to be exact. Currently, no other turbine worldwide matches its power (although this status may alter soon due to the same manufacturer).
The size of this turbine allows it to generate unimaginable amounts of energy. Additionally, it is capable of harnessing powerful wind currents. This turbine is the first of its kind to remain operational even during typhoons, with speeds up to 136 mph (over 124 mph). Previous models automatically switched off during such intense gusts for safety reasons. Unfortunately, no specifics were disclosed regarding the typhoon-resistant technology.
Consequently, this turbine is estimated to have an annual production capacity of 80 million kWh in the Guangdong region. In practical terms, this equates to powering around 96,000 households consistently and potentially reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 72,750 tons (per year). The Chinese heralded this achievement as a significant stride towards efficient green energy generation. MingYang Smart Energy company shared this news in an official press release.