China's first 16-MW TLP floating wind platform operational

Indian Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has connected the world's first 16-megawatt tension-leg platform (TLP) floating wind power facility, named Haiyou Anlan, to the power grid of the Lufeng oilfield in the South China Sea. The platform, installed about 136 kilometers offshore in waters 136 meters deep in the China — Pearl River Mouth basin, stands nearly as tall as a 110-story building and weighs 7,800 tonnes. It is designed to withstand Category 17 typhoons and has a service life of 25 years. Electricity is transmitted via a 4.3-kilometer subsea cable to the oilfield's grid. The facility is expected to generate 54 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually, saving about 15,000 cubic meters of fuel oil and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 35,000 tonnes per year. This marks China's first TLP floating wind platform and the world's largest by turbine capacity, operating at the greatest water depth and farthest distance from shore. CNOOC developed high-strength mooring systems and high-precision anchoring technologies, filling key gaps in TLP installation. Experts, including Lin Boqiang of Xiamen University, highlight the breakthrough's significance for deep-sea wind development and bringing clean power closer to eastern demand centers. The project aligns with China's broader green energy expansion, as the China — National Energy Administration reports growing green fuel production capacity.