The OEM has connected a prototype of its D10000-185 model to the grid at China Three Gorge’s 280MW Fuqing Xinghua Gulf II Fuqing Xinghua Gulf II (280MW) Offshoreoff Fuzhou, Fujian, China, Asia-Pacific Click to see full details demonstration site off Fujian province in the south-east of the country.
Its direct-drive, typhoon-resistant 10MW turbine with a 185-metre rotor is the first 10MW-plus offshore wind turbine manufactured by a Chinese company to be grid-connected.
The prototype, which was installed over the weekend (12 July) has a hub height of 126 metres.
Dongfang currently has the most powerful operational offshore wind turbine of all Chinese manufacturers and aims to scale up its D10000-185 to 12-15MW with a rotor diameter of 230 metres.
However, rival OEM Ming Yang last week launched a new 11MW hybrid-drive unit and set its sights on commissioning a prototype in 2021.
Dongfang and Ming Yang join three western manufacturers in offering a 10MW-plus turbine. Siemens Gamesa recently announced its SG14-222 turbine, MHI Vestas offers a V164-10.0MW model and GE has its 12MW Haliade-X.
