China’s 26‑MW Turbine Sets Size Record While 20‑MW Model Goes Live Offshore

The Dongfang Electric 26 MW unit was mounted on a coastal test base in Shandong in August 2025. It stands on land but incorporates typhoon‑proof blades and corrosion‑resistant coatings meant for offshore use. Engineers measure its rotor diameter at 310 meters, giving a swept area of about 77,000 square meters.

The 20 MW GWH300‑20 turbine, built by Goldwind and China Three Gorges, began operation in January 2026 off Fujian’s shore. Its 300‑meter rotor turns in water deeper than 40 meters, making it the biggest offshore machine actually feeding the grid. The installation required a specialized vessel capable of lifting sections over 150 meters long.

Mingyang Smart Energy unveiled a 50 MW floating concept in October 2025 that places two 25 MW rotors on a V‑shaped platform. Each rotor spans roughly 290 meters in diameter, similar to the Dongfang blade length. The design aims to access wind resources in water too deep for fixed foundations.

The Dongfang turbine’s swept area captures more than double the wind of a 200‑meter rotor, yielding up to 100 gigawatt‑hours annually—enough for roughly 30,000 households. The Fujian‑installed 20 MW unit, though smaller, already supplies power and confirms that 300‑meter rotors can endure marine conditions. Together, these milestones show Chinese manufacturers pushing both capacity and physical scale simultaneously.

Industry analysts note that larger rotors reduce the number of turbines needed per wind farm, which can cut foundation and cabling costs. However, transporting blades longer than a football field demands ports with spacious quays and heavy‑lift cranes. Maintenance crews also face challenges inspecting components at heights exceeding 150 meters.

Looking ahead, regulators and developers will watch whether Mingyang’s twin‑rotor floating design advances to a sea‑based prototype, and how the supply chain adapts to handle ever‑larger rotor diameters.