China's Largest Offshore Wind Power Self-Lifting Exploration Test Platform Put into Operation

China Three Gorges 101, China's largest offshore wind power self-lifting exploration test platform, was put into operation on Jan 7, 2022.

The 48-meter long and 30-meter wide platform has a maximum operating depth of 58 meters. It has a deck area equal to that of 3.5 basketball courts and a designed speed of five knots. The platform is available for as many as 40 crew members and has a variable load of 450 metric tons.

Built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, it will be operated by SGIDI Engineering Consulting (Group) Co., Ltd.

A view of the China Three Gorges 101 platform [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

With rapid development of clean energy in recent years, China has stepped up efforts to carry out offshore wind power project construction, leading to increasing demand for deep-sea offshore wind power exploration and installation equipment.

The China Three Gorges 101 platform is a result of the trend.

The steel-structured, ship-shaped and cylindrical pile leg self-elevating platform is currently the most functional and efficient of its kind in China and has the deepest operating water depth and the largest platform area in the country.

Installed with an efficient, intelligent, energy-saving and safe exploration system, the platform can play a role in intelligent offshore drilling, accurate in-situ testing and advanced geotechnical testing.

Based on the high-precision DP positioning system, it can realize fast moving and accurate positioning within the wind farm.

It is expected to enhance the country's scientific research capacity in survey and design and contribute to its goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)