Chinese player plans 16MW onshore wind monster as turbine 'arms race' enters 2025

Windey says machine is part of push to 'enhance capabilities in large wind turbine R&D'

An existing Windey turbine.
An existing Windey turbine.Photo: Windey

Windey has unveiled plans to develop a 16MW onshore wind turbine that continues the upward curve of ratings in the sector being driven by Chinese manufacturers.

The OEM said it had kicked off a “16-Megawatt Ultra-Large Onshore Wind Turbine R&D and Application” initiative as part of a wider project in inner Mongolia.

Windey said: “The project aims to enhance capabilities in large wind turbine R&D, advancing technological innovation in land-based wind power and supporting grid integration.

“Focused on breakthroughs in turbine design, blade technology, and stability control, the project will develop a 16MW wind turbine prototype with independent intellectual property rights, promoting efficient use of onshore wind resources.”

The move confirms that 2025 will see no halt to the relentless push upwards in ratings driven by Chinese players on land and sea, sometimes referred to as the turbine "arms race".

Sany in November switched on a 15MW turbine with a 270-metre rotor diameter, the world’s largest onshore machine to enter service so far.

The Chinese onshore monsters are more than double the rated capacity of the largest 7MW machines produced by western peers such as Vestas and Siemens Gamesa.

The supersizing of turbines has been a contentious issue in the wind sector in recent years, with complaints that the rapid drive to produce ever larger models is fuelling reliability issues and causing supply chain challenges, including for the transport of the machines.
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Published 3 January 2025, 10:59Updated 3 January 2025, 10:59
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