--- title: "\"Chinese Leviathan\": CNOOC Launches Giant Floating Wind Turbine to Power Oil Platforms" description: "🇨🇳 China has launched its first floating TLP wind farm, \"Haiyou Anlan\". 📍 Installed 136 km offshore at a depth of 136 meters. ⚡ 16 MW capacity powers the Lufeng oil field. 🌪 Withstands Category 17 typhoons. 📉 Saves 15,000 cubic meters of fuel annually. This is the world's largest turbine of this type, serving as a testbed for deep-water energy." date: 2026-08-09T14:56:52.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/china-cnooc-floating-wind-tlp-haiyou-anlan-en tags: [china, renewable-energy, wind-power, cnooc, offshore-wind, technology] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "Chinese Leviathan": CNOOC Launches Giant Floating Wind Turbine to Power Oil Platforms ![CNOOC floating wind turbine in the open sea with an oil rig on the horizon](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/09/china-cnooc-floating-wind-tlp-haiyou-anlan/china-cnooc-floating-wind-tlp-haiyou-anlan-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - CNOOC launched China's first floating TLP wind farm with a capacity of 16 MW. - The Haiyou Anlan installation is located 136 km from the coast at a depth of 136 meters. - The project saves 15,000 cubic meters of fuel and reduces CO2 emissions by 35,000 tons annually. - The platform can withstand Category 17 typhoons thanks to a unique tension leg system. On August 9, 2026, the Chinese energy sector marked a historic milestone. The state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) officially commissioned the country's first floating wind farm utilizing a Tension Leg Platform (TLP). The installation, named Haiyou Anlan, has already been connected to the power grid of the Lufeng offshore oil field and has begun supplying electricity. This project marks the transition from experimental models to the industrial implementation of deep-water wind energy in China. ### Technological Breakthrough 136 km Offshore The geographical location of the Haiyou Anlan installation is a record in itself. The platform is located in the South China Sea, approximately 136 kilometers from the coast and at a depth of about 136 meters. This is roughly 200 km southeast of the megacity of Shenzhen. The choice of such a remote and deep-water site is not accidental: here the winds are stronger and more stable, while the construction of traditional seabed foundations becomes economically and technically unfeasible. According to CNOOC, Haiyou Anlan has become the world's largest floating wind turbine of the TLP type in terms of single-turbine capacity. ### Gigantic Scale and Typhoon Resistance The turbine's design is impressive in its dimensions. The height of the entire installation is comparable to a 110-story skyscraper, and its total mass reaches about 7,800 tons. The rotor diameter of the turbine is so large that the area it covers during rotation is comparable to 7.5 football fields. The 16 MW turbine is designed for 25 years of operation. Special attention was paid to survivability in extreme weather conditions of the region: the platform is capable of withstanding Category 17 typhoons, which is a critical parameter for the waters of the South China Sea. ### Innovative TLP Platform The main engineering feature of the project is the use of a TLP. Unlike conventional offshore wind turbines rigidly fixed to a massive foundation, or semi-submersible platforms that can drift, the TLP remains floating but is rigidly fixed in the vertical plane. The structure is held by nearly vertical tensioned tethers connected to anchors on the seabed. The constant tension of these tethers limits the movement of the platform under the influence of waves and currents, ensuring high stability with a minimal footprint. This allows for a significant reduction in steel consumption and the area occupied in the water. ### Economic Impact and Ecology Once reaching rated capacity, Haiyou Anlan is expected to produce about 54 million kWh of electricity per year. All generation is used directly at the Lufeng oil field, powering drilling operations and the platform's life support. According to CNOOC estimates, this will allow for annual savings of about 15,000 cubic meters of diesel fuel, which was previously used by generators at the field. In ecological terms, the project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 35,000 tons annually, aligning with China's carbon neutrality goals. ### Installation Challenges and the Future of Deep-Water Energy The installation of the TLP platform proved to be significantly more complex than traditional offshore platforms. It required special precision in anchor installation and the connection of underwater elements. For the construction of Haiyou Anlan, CNOOC developed its own mooring system and high-precision seabed fixing technologies. During underwater installation, engineers used 3D modeling of sea conditions, which, according to the company, allowed connections to be made with millimeter precision. The project is viewed as a testbed for future deep-water wind farms. For China, this is particularly relevant as it allows for electricity production near industrial centers in the east, without relying on energy transmission from the western part of the country. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is a TLP platform? **A:** TLP (Tension Leg Platform) is a floating platform held in a vertical position by tensioned tethers connected to anchors on the seabed. This ensures high stability with minimal material consumption. ### Q: Where is the Haiyou Anlan wind turbine located? **A:** The installation is located in the South China Sea, approximately 136 km from the coast and at a depth of 136 meters, in the area of the Lufeng oil field. ### Q: What is the capacity of the installation? **A:** The capacity of a single turbine is 16 MW, allowing for the production of about 54 million kWh of electricity per year.