China's First Sino-Foreign Joint Offshore Wind Power Project Launched

The 500,000 kW Jiangsu Dongtai Offshore Wind Farm in East China's Jiangsu province, China's first Sino-foreign joint offshore wind power project, was launched on Oct 20.

Jointly developed by China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy) and Electricite De France (EDF), the project, valued at about 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) was signed on March 25, 2019.

With more than $160 million in direct foreign investment, the project is the most valuable non-nuclear EDF project ever invested in China.

Located in the North Tiaozini and Zhugensha sea areas in Dongtai, Jiangsu, the wind power project includes the 302 MW Dongtai H2 wind power project that went into operation in December 2019 and the 200 MW Zhugensha H1 project which is still in construction and is expected to begin service in 2021.

Operation and maintenance of the wind farm will be jointly carried out by China Energy and EDF.

Once the whole project is operable, the wind farm is expected to produce 1.4 billion kWh of power annually, meeting power demands of nearly 2 million residents.

The output equals the power produced by burning 441,900 tons of standard coal and reduces emissions by 937,500 tons of carbon dioxide and 1,704 tons of sulfur dioxide.

The Jiangsu Dongtai wind power project is the most distant of its kind with the most difficult comprehensive engineering challenges in China.

During construction of the H2 project, builders overcame hardships brought by the shoals, rapid flow, frequent typhoons, long distance from the coast and the need for a long submarine cable by innovating technologies.

For example, the integral hoisting technology of the No. 16 blower with a single pile foundation used in the construction was applied for the first time in the offshore wind power field of the world. Such technology effectively reduces offshore engineering procedures, shortens the offshore installation period and improves safety.

It's worth mentioning that the 220 kV triplex submarine cable backspring as well as manufacturing of the import hard joint of it were carried out during construction, which was a first in China.

It was also the farthest engineering of a 220 kV triplex submarine cable from the coast and the first time a self-elevating pipe-stabilizing platform was used in pile sinking.

The first overall submarine cable monitoring technology for 220 kV and 35 kV cables in an entire wind farm was also established.

The Jiangsu Dongtai wind power project is the beginning of cooperation between China Energy and EDF. More cooperation on wind power, photovoltaic, hydrogen energy and power storage is in the works, which will contribute to sustainable development of bilateral relations and energy cooperation between China and France.

A view of the Jiangsu Dongtai wind farm in East China [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The wind power blower unit with a single pile foundation is integrally hoisted in the Jiangsu Dongtai wind farm on Aug 17, 2019. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)