World’s largest turbines destined for Germany

Sixteen turbines have been ordered from Chinese supplier Ming Yang Smart Energy for the Waterkant site 90km off the island of Borkum.

The mammoth machines, which have a rotor diameter of 260 metres, can generate 18.5MW of power each. The average generation capacity of most offshore wind turbines is 8-12MW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, although some turbines by GE, Siemens Gamesa and Vestas have reached 15MW.

Luxcara claims that the turbines will be manufactured using 100% renewable energy, ‘thanks to its (Ming Yang’s) own offshore wind portfolio’.

Luxcara was successful in bidding for the site in a German offshore wind auction in August 2023.

Geotechnical and environmental investigations were completed before the auction, which means the project could be connected to the national transmission grid by 2028.

Germany has a target of 30GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, and is expected to allocate another 8GW this year.

As well as supplying electricity for the national grid, it wants to use the power to produce ‘green hydrogen’ – where the electrolysis performed to produce the gas is powered by renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.

The project raises questions about the supply chain, says market intelligence firm S&P Global, amid a growing sense that it should be brought closer to home rather than keep extending to China or elsewhere.

Calls to slow down the ever-increasing size of turbines have been made in recent months, but this could ignite the race again, S&P Global suggests.

S&P Global quoted Jefferies analyst Lucas Ferhani, who said if the project went well, western OEMs could be forced to develop their own 18MW turbines simply to compete.