China is breaking new ground in offshore wind power with Qihang, a turbine so gigantic that the First Tower, France’s tallest skyscraper, would fit between its blades, with a margin of 29 metres! It’s a technological feat that has propelled the Asian giant to the undisputed top of the renewable energy league, and has raised questions in Europe.

An impressive wind turbine

China continues to impress the world with its technological prowess, this time in the field of renewable energy. The Asian giant recently commissioned an offshore wind turbine so colossal in size that it dwarfs even the tallest architectural structures in Europe. To give you an idea of its scale, the First Tower, France’s tallest skyscraper at 231 metres, could easily fit between the blades of this mastodon of the seas, and there would still be a margin of 29 metres. A feat that underlines China’s inordinate ambitions in the field of green energy and its determination to establish itself as the undisputed leader in this sector of the future. This new project is a further step in the country’s energy transition and its quest for energy independence.

Developed by the state-owned CRRC Corporation, better known for its high-speed trains than for its wind turbines, this offshore turbine, named Qihang, boasts record dimensions. Its tower rises to a height of 151 metres, but it is above all the diameter of its rotor that makes the head spin: 260 metres from blade to blade. By way of comparison, the largest onshore wind turbines installed in France generally have a rotor diameter of between 110 and 150 metres. There’s a big difference. This scale gives Qihang an unprecedented capacity to generate electricity, capable of rivalling that of traditional power stations.

With a capacity of 20 MW, Qihang surpasses the previous 16.6 and 18 MW floating wind turbines deployed in 2024 by Envision Energy and Dongfang Electric, also from China. By way of comparison, the largest offshore wind turbines installed off the French coast have a unit capacity of around 8 MW, while the largest onshore wind turbine installed in France is General Electric’s Haliade-X, with a capacity of 12 MW and a rotor diameter of 220 metres. China is doing better. This technological superiority will be short-lived, however, as another Chinese giant, Mingyang Wind Power, has already announced plans to develop an even more powerful model, with a capacity of 22 MW.

Not just power

CRRC’s feat is not limited to the size of the turbine. Its modular design allows great flexibility in power configuration and adaptation to different floating platforms and anchors. The turbine is equipped with more than 200 sensors on the blades, structures, transmission systems, floats and moorings, enabling real-time monitoring of its operation and structural integrity. Qihang is also designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including typhoons, which are common in the maritime areas where it will be deployed. The wind turbine can produce up to 62 GWh of energy a year, enough to power 37,000 homes. In France, the average household consumes around 4,700 kWh of electricity per year. So a single Qihang wind turbine could theoretically power a medium-sized French town.

The first Qihang unit left CRRC’s Sheyang plant last October and was transported by self-propelled modular barges to the test site at the port of Guangli, in Shandong province. Once fully assembled, it began a period of rigorous testing and certification before its final deployment on the high seas and connection to the power grid.

The commissioning of this giant wind turbine marks a new stage in China’s meteoric rise in offshore wind energy. In just a few years, the country has overtaken the UK to become the world leader in terms of installed capacity. Floating wind turbine technology, such as that used by Qihang, makes it possible to exploit maritime zones that are deeper and further from the coast, where the winds are stronger and more regular. This opens up new prospects for the production of renewable energy, with no visual impact on the coastal landscape. China has around 18,000 km of coastline, giving it considerable potential for offshore wind energy. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), China’s installed offshore wind energy capacity reached 30.89 GW in 2023, representing more than 40% of the world’s capacity.

And what about Europe?

This Chinese technological advance is raising questions in Europe, and particularly in France. While France has set itself ambitious targets for renewable energy, the development of offshore wind power is struggling to get off the ground, hampered by complex administrative procedures and local opposition. The contrast with the speed and efficiency of deployment in China is striking. France has the second largest offshore wind potential in Europe, after the UK, with around 11,000 km of coastline. However, installed offshore wind energy capacity in France was only 2.4 GW in 2023, well below the government’s target of 6.2 GW by 2028.

Qihang’s example underlines the urgent need for France and Europe to speed up the energy transition and invest massively in the technologies of the future. It’s not just a question of catching up with China, but also of guaranteeing the continent’s energy independence and contributing to the fight against climate change. If France wants to maintain its place in the concert of nations and play a leading role in the energy transition, it is imperative that it adopts an ambitious and proactive strategy for the development of offshore wind power, drawing inspiration, why not, from the dynamism and boldness of its Chinese competitor. In 2024, the French government launched a call for tenders for the construction of 10 GW of offshore wind farms by 2030. However, achieving this objective will require a simplification of administrative procedures, greater social acceptance of projects and increased support for innovation and research.

The Qihang wind turbine is not only a technological feat, it is also a symbol of China’s determination to become a green energy superpower. A challenge for Europe and a call to action for France. It remains to be seen whether the country will rise to the challenge and live up to its ambitions.