136 km Offshore at 120 m Depth! Iraeta Supplies Flanges for China's First Deep-Sea Floating Wind Platform.

On March 26, 2023, China’s first deep-sea floating wind platform—the Haiyou Guanlan—set sail from the Fulu Terminal in Zhuhai, Guangdong, en route to Wenchang, Hainan, for installation and commissioning. Iraeta took on the entire flange manufacturing scope, supplying 11 flanges for the Mingyang 7.25 MW prototype turbines.

Mingyang 7.25 MW Prototype Wind-Turbine Flanges

The Haiyou Guanlan has a 7.25 MW installed capacity and consists of a floating substructure and turbine. Standing over 200 m tall with a rotor-swept area equal to 2.7 football fields, it was designed for 120 m water depth and 136 km offshore—both national firsts—making it China’s pioneering “double-hundred” deep-sea floating project.

Once operational, the turbine’s power will flow through a 5 km dynamic cable into the offshore oilfield grid to support oil and gas production. With an annual output of up to 22 million kWh, it meets the yearly electricity needs of 30,000 people and saves nearly 10 million m³ of fuel gas per year—cutting CO₂ emissions by 22,000 t annually.

The "Haiyou Guanlan" platform stands as the world's first semi-submersible deep-sea floating wind power platform designed to supply electricity to offshore oil and gas fields. Situated in one of the most challenging marine environments, it exemplifies international leadership across several key metrics, including per-megawatt investment, steel usage per unit, and single-turbine capacity. Its successful construction and commissioning have elevated China's offshore wind development capabilities from depths of less than 50 meters to beyond 100 meters, laying a robust foundation for the nation's transition from nearshore to deep-sea wind energy exploitation.

The Haiyou Guanlan Is a Semi-Submersible Platform (Second from the Right)

Floating wind turbines are the most economical and effective technology for tapping high-quality deep-sea wind resources. However, compared to fixed-bottom nearshore units, floating platforms must withstand extreme typhoons, sea waves, and ocean currents—harsh conditions that impose nearly “stringent” manufacturing requirements on turbine components.

Floating turbines must endure typhoons, waves, and currents, making the environment extremely challenging. This region has faced typhoons with central winds up to Category 17, requiring stricter standards for materials, forging processes, heat treatment, and quality testing. Since taking on the project in July 2022, Iraeta’s technical and quality teams have rigorously validated and monitored critical processes to ensure product fit and service life.

After delivery—and as the sole supplier—Iraeta has continuously monitored project progress. In February 2023, the company sent senior engineers to CNOOC Engineering’s Qingdao facility to witness the floating foundation’s construction and conduct on-site measurements, gathering valuable insights for future projects.

 Iraeta Engineers Traveled to CNOOC Engineering’s Qingdao Facility

According to reports, the Haiyou Guanlan is slated for full commercial operation in June 2025, after which it will continuously supply green power to offshore oil platforms. At that time, Iraeta’s “Qiankun Rings” will continue to venture into the deep blue, meeting new challenges ahead.