Late last week, China deployed its largest floating wind turbine as part of a project designed to advance the technology. According to state media, the giant construction was uniquely designed for challenging conditions on the high seas, including the ability to withstand a typhoon that occurs once every 100 years.

Known as Fuyao, the floating platform was towed from Maoming in southern China to a position more than 11 kilometers offshore in the South China Sea. The location was chosen for the demonstration because of a complex seabed and water depths ranging between 52m and 68m.

As the first offshore wind turbine deployed in China, a column-stabilized platform configuration with a triangular base was adopted. This shape contributes to buoyancy by allowing additional mass and damping with structural support between columns to reduce the amount of engineering the floating body.

The system also utilizes a three-point catenary mooring system. The anchor cable adopts the form of an anchor chain, which they reported to provide a long service life and reduce costs.