The South China Sea, Japan, or the Pacific islands could benefit from the new ocean engineering advancement developed by Mingyang Smart Energy: the OceanX. The proposal from the company dedicated to renewable energy is a floating platform designed to produce offshore wind energy while being able to withstand the adverse weather conditions of these regions. According to the developing company, OceanX, which features two turbines on a V-shaped tower over the floating base and produces 16.6 MW, is capable of withstanding super typhoons, such as Typhoon Yagi, which struck the region with speeds exceeding 220 km/h. Its construction is similar to that of the X Wind Turbine, with smart and robust anchors.
Extreme storms caused by climate change have created the need to develop infrastructure that serves as climate defense, as well as to incorporate sustainable technology capable of continuing to generate clean energy during times when power outages are more than frequent.
Mingyang Smart Energy
Founded in 2006 by Wang Song, it is the largest company dedicated to the manufacturing of wind turbines in China. It is considered a global leader in smart energy, specializing in the development, manufacturing, and operation of equipment and solutions that generate wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen energy. It is currently known for having designed and developed one of the most ambitious offshore engineering projects: OceanX.
OceanX
OceanX is a floating platform designed to produce clean energy while being able to withstand adverse weather conditions. It is a structure with two turbines on a V-shaped tower on the floating base, capable of producing 16.6 MW. It is 210 meters high, 369 meters wide, and weighs 15,000 tons. It is intended for use at depths greater than 35 meters, built with high-performance concrete to ensure its durability.
Is it really that resilient?
The manufacturing company claims that it is a structure capable of withstanding typhoons like Yagi, which hit the coasts of China with winds exceeding 220 km/h. To support this, it points out that OceanX turbines have two rotors, a V-shaped tower, robust floats, and an intelligent anchoring system, just like the powerful X wind turbine, which provide stability to the turbine.
Ocean X: high Cost, high risk
Ocean X is capable of continuing to generate clean energy in critical situations without being destroyed, but that does not mean it can alter the storm’s trajectory, weaken it, or prevent it. In fact, the doubts surrounding the project revolve around the unpredictability of the sea. Both the waves, turbulence, corrosion, marine life, and the condition of the materials can directly affect the platform’s durability and effectiveness. Additionally, its dimensions are so large that both its construction and maintenance are quite costly, requiring constant upkeep of the mooring systems and cables.
Typhoon Killer
This type of infrastructure has become a possible solution for regions such as China, the coasts of Asia, Japan, or the Pacific islands, where typhoons are quite common. It is estimated that each platform like OceanX could generate enough clean energy to supply more than 30,000 homes, ensuring a steady power supply during storms, when outages are very frequent. According to the company itself, OceanX has been nicknamed the ‘typhoon killer,’ so we will have to wait and see if reality lives up to the expectations set on paper, and if it truly becomes one of the solutions that can help protect communities and the coasts in these regions.
Despite this new project, there are also others that focus on wind energy. Find out more here!