China’s Dongfang Installs World’s Largest 26 MW Offshore Wind Turbine

China has claimed a new world record in offshore wind power with the installation of a 26 MW turbine by state-owned Dongfang Electric. The mammoth machine overtakes Siemens Gamesa’s 21.5 MW unit in Denmark, cementing China’s position at the forefront of wind technology. Installed at a testing and certification site, the prototype marks a major step forward in turbine engineering.

With a blade diameter of over 310 meters and a hub height of 185 meters, the turbine towers higher than a 60-story building. Earlier this month, Dongfang transported the world’s heaviest nacelle and three giant blades to the site, underscoring the sheer logistical and technological feat behind the installation.

Built for offshore locations where wind speeds average eight meters per second or more, the turbine is capable of generating 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. That output is sufficient to power around 55,000 homes, while offsetting 30,000 tons of coal consumption and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tons. Designed with resilience in mind, the turbine can withstand winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.

The achievement highlights China’s rapid rise in offshore wind energy, with the country expected to install nearly three-quarters of the world’s new offshore turbines this year, according to reports. By contrast, projects in the US, Europe, and Japan have slowed under the pressure of high financing costs, supply chain disruptions, and waning subsidies.

Provinces like Guangdong are setting ambitious targets, aiming for 17 GW of offshore wind by 2025, more than any nation outside China has achieved. For Dongfang, the new 26 MW turbine symbolises this trend toward larger, more powerful machines that can capture stronger winds further offshore, driving down costs and pushing technological limits.

Although the turbine will undergo rigorous fatigue testing before receiving full certification, the prototype is already a landmark moment. More than just an engineering accomplishment, it is a clear sign that China is not merely catching up with the global wind industry, it is now setting the pace.