The Chinese state-owned company China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has connected a floating wind power station to the power grid of an offshore oil field in the South China Sea, providing a direct supply of environmentally friendly electricity to the marine oil field.

Commissioning of the New Platform

The Haiyou Anlan floating wind power station, installed on a tension leg platform (TLP) with a capacity of 16 megawatts, has been put into operation and connected to the power grid of the Lufeng oil field in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. This project marks a significant milestone in the development of Chinese deepwater floating wind technology.

Technical Specifications

Haiyou Anlan is the first independently developed floating wind power station on a TLP platform in China. Its design is engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions, including resistance to super typhoons with sustained wind speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour. The platform is installed at a depth of 136 meters and is located 136 kilometers from the shore.

Environmental and Economic Impact

The annual electricity generation is expected to reach 54 million kilowatt-hours, which will allow for a partial replacement of oil-based energy production and reduce the oil field’s dependence on fossil fuels during oil and gas extraction. Integrating offshore wind power with the oil field’s grid will save up to 15,000 cubic meters of fuel oil and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 35,000 tons per year.

Power Transmission and Structural Features

The electricity generated by the wind platform is delivered to the Lufeng oil field’s grid via a 4.3-kilometer underwater cable. The platform weighs 7,800 tons and has a projected service life of 25 years.

Using the TLP system in the platform’s construction reduces steel consumption without compromising structural strength and also minimizes the water area occupied compared to semi-submersible designs.